Canada’s Conservative government has introduced Bill C-9 to prohibit conditional sentencing for offences that carry a maximum sentence of 10 years or more.  A conditional sentence is a sentence of less than two years which the convicted individual serves in his or her community.  Conditional sentences typically entail house arrest and/or curfew, but the offender doesn’t have to go to jail.

Bill C-9 is motivated by concerns that conditional sentences have been given for offences so serious or violent that proper condemnation of the offence demands jail time.  Serious personal injury offences, including all sexual assaults and offences related to organised crime, would be rendered ineligible for conditional sentences if Bill C-9 is passed.

The United Church of Canada’s statement on Bill C-9 is what you’d expect from the most liberal denomination in all of Christendom.

The United Church of Canada is calling on the Canadian government to withdraw legislation to amend Canada's Criminal Code because, says the church, "Bill C-9 plays only to people's fears."

"The proposed legislation to curtail conditional sentencing will hurt real people and real communities," says the United Church's Moderator, the Right Rev. David Giuliano. "We are committed to justice that serves the community and concerned about the reactionary and simplistic premise of Bill C-9, a bill that effectively handcuffs judges."

In a letter sent to all members of the House of Commons and the Senate, Giuliano writes, "We believe that Bill C-9 – which denies access to conditional sentencing for the 160 offences that carry a maximum of 10 years – is poorly designed. It plays to the sound and fury audience, but signifies next to nothing. It does not contribute to safer communities, allow for rehabilitation of the offender, or redress the victim."

I read stuff like that and ask: What planet are they living on?  It’s trivially obvious that incarcerating violent offenders far from their victims contributes to safer communities.  As for redress of the victim, those who have been sexually or otherwise assaulted generally find it immensely therapeutic to see perpetrators locked up for a good long spell.  Indeed, they often feel victimized twice over if the system allows the attacker to return to town without imprisonment.  It is not uncommon for victims to move out of town if their attacker has been given a conditional sentence.

Ya gotta love this howler from Heather Macdonald, UCC’s program coordinator for restorative justice:

Separated communities are not safer communities.

What tripe.  Of course, separating convicted felons from victims enhances community safety.  News flash for the UCC: Sending violent criminals to prison is a good thing.  Bill C-9 is intended to force our judges to do so more often.  The sooner it’s passed, the better.

h/t: Big News Network.com – Breaking Religious News

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