LAST week I spoke
about those who coi-
tinually run afoul of
the justice system and
keep getting tossed
back onto an unsus-
pecting public to vic-
timize again.

T endeavored to point out
ihat some people are simply
morally irretrievable. It docs-
n’t matter how many times
they stand in the dock or are
guests of Her Majesty for
whatever pre-determined
time, they will only get out
aud pick up where they left
°

All of the well-meaning
social and rehabilitative pro-
grams they are put through
do not have any effect what-
soever.

I used, as an example, the
case of a North Vancouver
excuse for humanity, who
breaks into houses when he’s
not in jail. It’s a strange
occupation, but he’s been at
it full time for nigh on 15
years,

But there are so many
more, Last year, Vancouver
Police Strike Force were
working on one such
butthead. After arresting him
for the umpteenth time com-
mitting a B&cE, he was
released by a Vancouver
Provincial Court Judge on
bail. Strike force members
simply sat on him knowing
full well he would break into
another house at his earliest
opportunity.

They watched him get on
to a bus and head to south
Vancouver. Less than 45
minutes after being released
by the learned judge, our
hero was again in custody by
members of strike force who
watched him break into
another house. Back again
for another trip through the
revolving doors of justice.

People like these, and I
use the term advisedly, are
beyond any sort of rchabilira-

your move,

Make

crime and
bs | punishment

tion program the correction
or justice system has to offer.

Period.

The persons responsible
for the administration for
justice are constantly advo-
cating methods other than
jail for persons entering the
system. They trot out figures
indicating that Canada jails
more people per capita than
any other country in
Western world, save the
USA.

They argue this means jail
doesn’t work in reforming
their behavior. I agree. In
fact, that’s the very essence
of my point.

Criminals virtually never

et custodial sentences their
first few times in front of a
court. In reality, a jail sen-
tence is only imposed in the
most extreme cases or for
those who have failed to take
advantage of the myriad pro-
grams offered by the system
on the way up in their crimi-
nal career.

By the time they see a jail
cell they are already, for the
most part, bevond redemp-
tion.

Jail therefore, is simply a
method of protecting society
from these leeches. In B.C.
the recidivism rate for bank
rabbers is over 80%.

Just to the south of us in
Washington state, the recidi-
vism rate is now 0%.

Why?

Simple. Rob a bank in
Seatdle and you git 20 years
for the firse offence. Thirty
for the second and life for
the third.

Bye-bye.

In Canada, the sentence

% discount with this coupon

25/package
feg. $11.25...

roll of 100
req. $45.00 ........... SALE $41.85

LONSDALE STATIONERY
1562 Lonsdale Ave /16*St.
988-6420 or 9AB-5619

= Address bad behavior early

is, on average, less than five
years. The bank robber is
usually on the street on
parole in less than nwo years.

But there is a way to
change the situation without
putting society at risk.

In the late 1970s in
Langley, nwo social workers,
Jim Smith and Fred West,
began a program called
Langley Youth and Family
Services. Their concept was
to involve the police, the
schools, the churches, local
merchants and anyone else
who gave a damn, to identify
problem kids to them and,
using the justice system,
force the kids to submit
themselves to their tender
mercies.

Smith and West knew
they needed to reach kids at
the earliest stages of their
behavioral problems, when
they were 8, 10 and 12 years
old. They knew that by the
time a kid was 16 and had
been through the system a
time or two, there was pre-
cious little they could do to
help.

The results achieved by
them were astounding. Their
success rate was well over
90%. Smith is still involved
with the program, alocit the
mandate has changed some-
what. He has assisted many
other areas with the imple-
mentation of similar pro-
grams for local youth.

The reason tor their suc-
cess had a lot to do with the
knowledge and admission
that some people would not
or could not be helped. They
understood there was no
rhyme or reason in wasting
valuable time and resources
on those individuals. They -
focused on those who still
had a chance, and in working
with those kids, they were
tireless,

To me this makes a
mountain of sense. We can-
not waste any more time,
money and resources on
those who will nor be

. SALE $10.46

me ous Gee oe ee ee oe oe om at oe

OCEAN Front Lots - VANCOUVER ISLAND

AMS chance to own 400 ft.
/-\.of walk-on ocean frontage on
your private 5 acre estate lot.
Secluded yet 2asily accessible
within a three hour travelling time

by car irom Vancouver.

Located between Comox and

Campbell River with world class
fishing, golf, and skiing all within

thirty minutes drive.

Only 5 lots available starting from

$399,000.

For further information,

Dave Procter

RE/MAX dave procter realty.
Phone (250)339-2021 Toll Free Hotline 1-888-339-5014

Project Code 2066

et

Lube, oit & filter change S| cam
Reg. $28.95 Pennzoil 10W30 a
1362 Marine Drive 983-9115

Not valid with other offers

Open 7 days a week Mon-Sat 8:00am-6:00pm, Sun. 9:00am-5:00p
All services fully warranty anproved Expites Seplember 397

helped. Lock them up, good-
bye and good riddance. They
are adult enough to muke
their own choices — jail or
abide the law.

Spend the money instead
on programs such as the one
run by Jim South. Pur them
in every community and I
guarantce we will reap the
benefits in as little as five
years time.

— The North Shore News
believes strongly in freedom of
specch and the right of all sides
in a debate to be heard. The
columnists published in the
News present differing points
of view, but those views are not
necessarily those of the newspa-
per itself.

endoesetl b 7 the: “

© Tayestor ©
~ Learning|
*, Genitre

wasp

The Investing Course
for every Canadian...

Intelligent
Investing

Take charge of your financial future
in six relaxed seminars:

© How to plan for your financial goals §
© How the investment industry works

© How to pick stocks

© How to select bonds

© How to choose mutual funds

© How to plan for retirement

Sn
AL amid the

RAN
SEAR EPLDEN
ISS Pore re

CALL TO ACTION! }
Over prescribing drugs is a serious fi
health issue - costs millions of
dollars and effects the quality of f
life of many people
TOGETHER WE CAN
MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Non-Promotional - Lots of Real-Life
Examples - Explained in plain English

FACT BC. Government

Bm coatributes $15.75 million of tax #
payers’ money for doctor's
medical and legal liability
insurance.
CONCERNED? To help ievel
the playing field in Joan
Gadsby's ground breaking
medical malpractice lawsuit and
appeal! which has cost $75,000 to

A date. we ask you to consider
donating to the “Joan Gadsby
Legal Action Fund” c/o Trustee §

Fred Whittaker #103, 3151
Woodbine _Crive. = North

m Vancouver, V7R 2S4
For turther information

faves: oon

Approved kistructo: Glyn Davies, CIM, FCSI

Six consecutive Tuesdays Six consecutive Wednesdays Six consecutive Thursdays
{Sep 30, Oct 7, Oct 14, (Oct 1, Oct 8, Oct 15, Oct 22, (et 2, Oct 9, Oct 16,
Oct 21, Oct 28, Nov 04) Oct 29, Nov. 5} Oct 23, Oct 30, Nov 06)
Classes 7:00 pm to 9:20 Clazses 7:00pm to 9:30pm ‘Classes 7:00 pm to 9:20 pm
West Memorial Library North Shore Winter Club Hollybum Country Club -
1950 Marine Orive 1325 East Keith Ad Crosscreek Room
West Vancouver North Vancouver 950 Crosscreek Rd

West Vancouver

$160.00 per session
if Minis 921-8458

Rictic

-

—o oe oe ee

\

wo
—_——
a

*

(0 BN ocak soesr Oe
- - Best Price «Best Service* Best Selection”
| .
I

1

1

| :
L
rm

* Es see ast Bone es es

il ee cee, see mee en cm lnc em en‘ ms
. ee eee

\