TWEED PRAISES YOUNG OFFENDERS ACT AMENDMENTS

"Sébastien's Law" focuses on violent and repeat young offenders

BRANDON, March 17, 2010 – Merv Tweed, MP for Brandon-Souris was pleased with the introduction of amendments to young offenders legislation announced by the Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. 

“The residents of Brandon-Souris can have confidence that our government is taking essential steps forward in strengthening our criminal justice system,” said Tweed.  With the introduction of these amendments we are acknowledging all Canadian families who have lost loved ones in crimes involving youth violence.”

The proposed amendments would:

·         make protection of society a primary goal of the legislation;

·         simplify the rules to keep violent and repeat young offenders off the streets while awaiting trial, when necessary to protect society;

·         require the courts to consider adult sentences for youth convicted of the most serious crimes – murder, attempted murder, manslaughter and aggravated assault;

·         enable the courts to impose more appropriate sentences on other violent and repeat offenders, as necessary in individual cases – to use existing sanctions in a way that would discourage an individual from offending again; to use a pattern of escalating criminal activity to seek a custodial sentence when necessary; to impose a custodial sentence for reckless behaviour that puts the lives and safety of others at risk; and

·         require the courts to consider publishing the name of a violent young offender when necessary for the protection of society.

Regarding the requirement to consider adult sentences for youth convicted of the most serious crimes, the provinces and territories will still have the discretion to set the age at which this requirement would apply.

The amendments would also ensure that offenders under the age of 18 who are sentenced to custody will be placed in youth facilities only, even if they receive an adult sentence.

“The amendments introduced will ensure that violent and repeat young offenders will be held accountable while simplifying rules to keep these offenders off the streets when necessary to protect society,” said Tweed.