Classifieds 988-6222 Office, Editorial 985-2131

PPE
Photo by Cindy Goodman

Giving thanks

IT’S THANKSGIVING on Monday,and to many people that means turkey and
family gatherings and, of course, giving thanks. Shirley Arnold takes the
tavorite holiday meai out of the oven, ready to serve.

7 SUNDAY

‘| Renew your
| fall wardrobe

’ Carol Crenna: 18

Display Advertising 980-0511

Distribution 986-1337 25¢

Federal solicitor general,
nat’l parole board chairman
meet with N. Shore group

MEMBERS OF the North Vancouver-based Citizens Unit-
ed for Safety and Justice (CUSJ) met Friday on the North
Shore with federal Solicitor General Doug Lewis and Na-
tional Parole Board Chairman Fred Gibson to discuss cor-
rectional system reforms announced Tuesday by the federal

government.

CUSJ members at the meeting
welcomed the legislative pro-
posals. The group, in existence for
{0 years, assists and lobbies on
behalf of crime victims who feel
they have been mistreated by the
criminal justice system.

According to North Shore
CUS!I coordinator Noreen Pro-
vost, the group has for years lob-
bied the federal gove.nment for
justice system revisions as they
pertain to the role of victims anc
parole board procedure.

Said Provost, ‘‘Revisions are
very necessary, in our opinion, if
there is a true desire to give over-
due consideration to victims and
encourage public confidence in the
whole justice system."’

The Corrections and Condi-
tional Release Act, introduced
earlier this weck, will, when pass-
ed, replace the existing Peniten-
tiary Act and the Parole Act,

The bill is scen as a major fed-
eral legislative step forward for
victims of crime,

{t results from public consulta-
Hon stemming from the 1990 fed-
eral release of the federal discus-
sion paper Directions for Reform.

The proposals recommended
reforms in the area of conditional
release. The National Parole
Board followed with a discussion
paper on victims and the intent of
working to make the criminal
justice system fairer and more ac-
countable and to bring correc-
ional practices in line with victim
concerns as well as those of their
organizations.

The parole reform bill an-
nounced Tuesday includes a
number of key recommendations:
@ Eligibility for full parole for

By Michael Secker

News Reporter

violent offenders can be delayed,
at a judge’s discretion, to half of
a sentence from the current third.

FEDERAL SOLICITOR General
Doug Lewis ... discussing cor-
rectional system retorms.

@ The addition of sexual offences
against children and serious drug
offences to the category of crimes
for which offenders can be de-
tained in a penitentiary for the
duration of their sentences.

@ Victims, upon request, will get
more information on the peniten-
tliary and parole status of offend-
ers, more input into parole deci-
sions and more opportunity for
participation at parole hearings.

@ Information from victims can
be considered at a parole hearing.

See Reform page 8

EE EE a a ES
index

@ High Profiles

@ Gary Bannerman

Mi Classified Ads.......... 48
@ Cocktails & Caviar

@ Fashion

@ High Tech ..

Horoscopes .......0.0.0.0. ai

@ Bob Hunter

M@ Lifestyles......000..0.. 39
B Miss Manners

@ Spiritually Speaking

@ Travel

@ Vintage Years

1B What's Going On

Weather

Sunday, mostly sunny. High 15°C, Low 7°C,
Monday. sunshine and clouds. High 14°C. Low 6°C.

Second Class Aegistration Number 3885