nguiring
ve porter

fes of many a

B.C. resident already ne
vous about the prospect
of 52) more treaty settle-
ments with this
province's First) Nations
;dlong the lines of that
i signed with the Nisga‘a.
A recent North
Vancouver provincial

court case saw a defen
lawyer ask a judge to con-
sider treating his client
erently because he was

sn iginal offende
The crime was assault

causing bodily harm to
which a guilty plea had
already been entered.
The recently amended
Criminal Code oft
Canada (8.7 1S. 2c) now
says a we aihabte sane
Gonos other than iniprrs
omment that are reason
able in the cirets
stances should be con
sidereadl for all) offend
ers, with particular atten:
tion to the circumstances
of aboriginal offenders.”
It needs to be empha
sized that our courts
already consider “dis
sion” for juvenile offend:
ers and it isa fact that jail
sentencing is less often
applied to senior offend-
ers, s0 apparently “differ
enw” standards do exist.
A local defence Lawyer
says the Criminal Code
provision was written to
sensiiize judges to
options such as “circle
sentencing” in) provinces

where netive offenders
are a hugely dispropor
Votite percentage of
iMAtes,

Case
rerornas the
hiscor her tribe fer tradi
tienal sentencing and ty
net always APpPropreste
simee it requires the corm
antinent of both parties
to the process to make it
work,

Such sentencing still
attaches a criminal record
to the convicted: irrespey
tive of the native process.

So. might it be possi
ble to support ao system
that provides the same
prosecution and convic
tion for all, buat allows
tibal elders to become
custodial officers, reha
bilitators and healers in
certain circumstances?

Perhaps vou did not
have all the facts, but it
would appear that vou do
Not agree.

sentens iy

ottender to

NORTH SHORE DEMOGRAPHICS

Horseshoe Bay
Dundarave/Amblesi
British Properties

Norgate/Pemberton Heights
Capilano/Delbrook Highlands

Lower Lonsdale
Centr:
Lynn Valley

Blucridge/Deep Cove

TOTAL .

A-Wear is now opén at Park Royal North. Bring a snapshot of yourself to any store, including our

and Upper Lonadale

Sara Little
Noo rt
Vaneau

Jenniter
Underhill
Noo roth
Vancouver
Porcally

propa
wath othe

aftttie oa) fart
aeourt Nvsted
burt
rust talking
property crime
om the reserve,
why onet der
them deal with
in themselves
And turn tf ares
ssntenee then,
white Man whe
NAUVE propery
T surpprase at ail ce
CHCUDISLAIC ES,

Were

im

ind. Pf we are prepared te
why aot det them jude a
commits a orinae nast

ames dows te the und ndunal

~

aT ETS

he phase teu

BO YOU HAVE A QUESTION
FOR THE INQUIRING
REPORTER? E-mail your
‘comments or question ideas ;

‘to: miller@nsnews.com

a oy ASK vee F

“FROM, MALL SEC

Vancouver Richmond and Victoria locations. and you could appearin next spring ‘scampaign, a

“

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BALE AR

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