June 17, 1994 For Immediate Release
BREITKREUZ CALLS YOUNG OFFENDER SYSTEM A "MERRY-GO-ROUND"
Last night, Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, told MPs in the House of Commons that young offenders are flaunting the law and the government is letting them get away with it. A local RCMP officer told me, "We are not holding young people accountable. We catch the kids and they say, "I did it - so what?" Breitkreuz told MPs how the young offender merry-go-round really works, "RCMP officials tell me young offenders are often put on probation for their first, second, third and fourth offenses. The next conviction they might get "alternative measures" - like community work. The next conviction they might get "open custody". And finally, after six or seven convictions they might be put in "closed custody" in a group home." Breitkreuz also pointed out that many times young offenders are not charged like the six teenagers who were let go after completely demolishing a $6,000 car owned by a man in Sturgis, Saskatchewan.
Liberal MPs seemed shocked when Breitkreuz suggested work camps and, repeated demands from his constituents for a return of corporal punishment as a way to straighten out the worst young offenders. Breitkreuz outlined thirteen recommendations on how the problem of violent, young offenders could be turned around. These included putting the protection of society as the government's top priority, lowering the age for young offenders to 10, requiring any person over the age of 16 to be tried in adult court, and, making parents legally responsible for the crimes their children commit, if it can be proven that they failed to exercise proper parental control.
For more information please call:
Yorkton: (306) 782-3309 (800) 667-6606
BREITKREUZ' RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
REFORM OF THE YOUNG OFFENDERS ACT
(1)FIRST OF ALL, THE YOUNG OFFENDERS ACT SHOULD PLACE THE PROTECTION OF SOCIETY AND OUR CITIZENS AS ITS FIRST PRIORITY. I DON'T MIND GIVING FIRST OFFENDERS A CHANCE TO TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND BUT ALLOWING KIDS TO GET OFF WITH CRIME AFTER CRIME WITHOUT EVEN SO MUCH AS A SLAP ON THE WRIST IS JUST RIDICULOUS.
(2)IT SHOULD BE CLEAR IN THE YOUNG OFFENDERS ACT THAT YOUNG PERSONS HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS TO THE LARGER SOCIETY AND WOULD BE PUNISHED IF THEY FAILED TO MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS.
(3)PARENTS AND GUARDIANS SHOULD BE MADE LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR EXERCISING PARENTAL CONTROL OVER THEIR CHILDREN AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRIMES THEIR CHILDREN COMMIT IF THEY FAILED TO PLACE REASONABLE CONTROLS ON THEIR CHILDREN.
(4)ANY OFFENDER AGE 16 AND OLDER SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AN ADULT AND BE TRIED IN ADULT COURT.
(5)YOUNG OFFENDERS SHOULD BE REDEFINED TO INCLUDE THOSE OFFENDERS WHO ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 AND 16, COMPARED TO THE CURRENT DEFINITION OF 12 TO 18.
(6)YOUNG OFFENDERS, AGED 14 AND 15, WHO REPEAT SERIOUS CRIMES SHOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRED TO ADULT COURT
(7)ANY YOUNG OFFENDER WHO USES A GUN IN THE COMMISSION OF AN OFFENCE SHOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY TRIED IN ADULT COURT.
(8)YOUNG OFFENDERS WHO ARE INCARCERATED WOULD BE OBLIGATED TO COMPLETE EDUCATION/SKILLS UPGRADING WITHIN A DISCIPLINED ENVIRONMENT. I HAPPEN TO THINK BOOT CAMPS AND WORK CAMPS ARE A GOOD IDEA.
(9)LOW RISK OFFENDERS, REFUSING TO PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATION/ SKILLS UPGRADING, WOULD BE OBLIGATED TO "WORK FOR THEIR KEEP" BY CONTRIBUTING TO CIVIC OR BUSINESS PROJECTS.
(10)ONLY THOSE YOUNG OFFENDERS WHO SHOW A DETERMINATION TO REHABILITATE THEMSELVES WOULD BE GIVEN SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND/OR EARLY PAROLE
(11)YOUNG OFFENDERS AND THEIR PARENTS WOULD BE HELD LEGALLY LIABLE FOR PROVIDING COMPENSATION TO THEIR VICTIMS
(12)YOUNG OFFENDER'S CRIMINAL RECORDS WOULD BE TREATED THE SAME AS ADULT CRIMINAL RECORDS.
(13)AND FINALLY,THE PUBLIC HAVE A RIGHT, THROUGH THE MEDIA, TO BE INFORMED OF THE CRIMINAL AND JUDICIAL ACTIVITIES OF YOUNG OFFENDERS.