The Canadian Bar Association: Canadian Association Of Social Workers

Canadian Psychological Association Dept: Until this winter, public and media debates about sentencing have been long on cliches and short on reason. At election times, we have repeatedly heard political candidates and some media pundits rant about getting tough, cracking down and throwing away the key to make us safer. However, experts and researchers agree most of the measures behind these cliches actually make us less safe, according to The Chronicle Herald. The Canadian Bar Association representing defence lawyers, prosecutors and judges has said the bill will make us less safe, less secure and ultimately less Canadian. Similar criticisms have come from other non-partisan experts like the Canadian Psychiatric Association, Canadian Association of Social Workers, Canadian Psychological Association, Canadian Pediatric Society, and National Union of Public and General Employees Corrections officials . Sentences must fit the crime was the headline of s Feb. 16 editorial. This widely accepted phrase, and many like it, have disturbingly little basis in social research or facts which raises important questions about our current arguments about sentencing and corrections in Canada. The most troubling consequence of this ranting is Bill C-10, a sweeping tough on crime bill that has passed through the House of Commons and is now before the Senate. Ironically, it is called The Safe Schools and Communities Act. In short, its purpose is to send offenders to jail more often and keep them there longer. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.