10 — Sunday, November 23, 1997 — North Shore News

Dear Editor:

Re: Leo Knight’s Oct. 31
article.

This office does not usual-
jy comment on newspaper
articles on justice-related
issues, but Leo Knight’s
recent column on a specific
case of ours requires clarifica-
tion.

When dealing with the
Crown prosecutor's office and
the courts in general, one
quickly learns that unless you
were preseat when all the a
were discussed, it is inherently
dangerous to voice a critical
view because you just might
be wrong.

Leo Knight’s comments
about this case are inaccurate,
short-sighted and even more

rtant could conceivably
influence North Vancouver
citizens unfavorably against
our justice system — which |
do not think is fair.

In North Vancouver we
have established over time a
process with the Crown pros-
ecutor’s office that works well
and allows interaction for
cases that are “not charged”
or cases where the prosecutor
doing “charge approval”

yuys wu

OW YOU
ML

needs more information to
allow him or her to make a
decision.

The police submit a report
to the Crown (RTCC) in
which the facts of the case are
documented, the Crown then
reviews the issues and applies
the “substantial likelihood of
the conviction” standard to
the case.

The standard is really a
two-pronged test, the second
part being whether (it is in
“the public interest” to pro-
ceed with charging the
offender.

If the offence is a minor
one and costs would be sub-
stantial to bring witnesses
back for the court, then the
matter may not proceed, If
the matter does not result in a
charge being laid, the officer
or court liaison member can
ask for a “review” which is
conducted by another Crawn
prosecutor.

On occasion the matter is
referred to me, and [ will ask
for a review by the
Administrative Crown, who is
a senior prosecutor with con-
siderable experience.

If I still am | not satisfied

Wee,

tal

Chilkeot Trail Edition
Anew Special Edition model with rugged good

looks featuring: 3.3litre, V6 engine, “shitt on the fly”

four wheel drive, limited slip rear differential, side step

fails, ait conditioning, 100 watt 6 speaker AM/FM CD, power

features,

remota entry, cruise control, roof rack, anti

keyless
B theft system, fog lights, compass, outside temp display,
. 5 spd manual transmission, carbon fibre console (ADO)

The more intelligent ixury and performance
sedan, featuring power windows & door locks,
heated mirrors, CFC free air conditioning.
illuminated entry system, 4 spd auto trans, dual
air bags, armvim cassette with 4 speakers. cruise
control, V6 190hp engine, 15” wheels and much
more (AE00)

Vehicle may not be exactly as shown

MAIL Box
North Van RCMP take issue with column|

with the decision I can ask for
a review by the Regional
Crown counsel in Vancouver.
In the four years I have been
here I have asked for this
once.

A final option, which I
have not done, would be for
me to lay a private informa-
tion before a justice. This has
never been done.

The case that is described
in Leo Knight’s article is still
open.

The constable had submit-
ted an RTCC on this case, and
the Crown had asked for cer-
tain issues to be clarified.

The arrest of the suspect
and seizure of the property
dealt with areas of the law that
were complicated (warrantless
search of a motor vehicle,
consent search, arrest and
detention, good faith on the
part of the constable, Charter
of Rights and Freedoms, etc.)
so the Crown was quite prop-
er in asking for additional

* information.

Should this information
not have been sought, the
accused might have raised the
issues in court and the case
may have been lost. As it

5349

per month
‘Based on NCFI, $3590 dip. 36 mos. lease,
Dlus freight, pdi & all applicable taxes

turned out, and it was nothing
to do with Leo Knight, the
Crown prosecutor authorized
break, enter and theft and
possession of stolen property
charges against the suspect
after the second RTCC was
submitted.

The point here is that we
subjected this case to our
review process and the system
worked.

The problem with the
broad, self-indulgent articles
published by the Leo Knights
of the world is that they add
to public skepticism of a jus-
tice system that is perceived as
not working.

Well, it does work.

There may be problems
with the system, but it has
evolved over time to a reason-
able balance between the
rights of the individual and
those of society.

The police, Crown prose-
cutors, judiciary, probation,

26:

y

EAMILY
SERVICES
of the
NORTH
SHORE

The rewards of

giving: happy
endings

| am often asked what it’s
like to work at the
North Vancouver
Christmas Bureau. in
one of Canada’s richest
communities, we serve
almost 1,000 families
annually and are
entirely funded by
community donations.
Our primary program
matches families in

need with sponsoring
families, businesses and
community groups who
provide a Christmas
hamper and gifts.

Behind every application
to the Christmas Bureau
there is a story and none
of them is a fairy tale.
There are stories of new
beginnings: families
arriving in Canada and
failing to find the
happiness they were
expecting. There are
stories of the “working
poor” or those
experiencing a bad
chapter in their lives and
there are stories of
desperation. Bureau

Family Services of the Ne

To register for courses or for

h Shore ds acrron- profit ‘ g
he North Sho

urther information:

parole, corrections, victim ser-
Vices section ¢¢ af sze all part
of the justice system, so taking
public shots at those areas that
cannot or will not respond to
put the.record right does little
to restore puolic confidence in
our ability to provide an effec-
tive police service.

We have established a
meaningful system of review
that allows for the police to,
question decisions that may
be unpopular or those thar
need further examination.

We live in a free and demo-
cratic society and the police
must live and act within the
rule of law.

Mr. Knight also makes
light of conditional sentences
but once again, a review of the
facts will show that cach case
has to be decided on its own
merits and to allow our judges
to use alternative sentencing
methods makes perfect sense
and for the most part works

families range from single
disabled people to
families of eight. Each
family deserves a
Christmas celebration.
The rewards of giving are

the happy endings to the
stories we experience at
the Christmas Bureau.

Six ways you can
help at the
Christmas
Bureau

#Make a donation in a
friend or relative’s name
for their Christmas
present,

*Sponsor a family;

Volunteer your time

*Donate new toys for the
Tov Shop

eDonate food for food
hampers;

*Donate money. During

the mail strike drop off

your donation at #101-

quite well for all concerned.
especially the public.

Sentencing offenders andi
bail examinations are difficuldy
decisions for judges and wall
would be no further ahead by
some of Mr. Knight’s sugges-
tions.

I, for one, do not want to
live in a country where agents
of the state (the police) can|
randomly stop and search cars|
for little ‘reason. .

The laws are there for a

reason. Perhaps Mr. Knight iim
would be well served to writc ii

about the high number. o
excellent cases that have been
prosecuted professionally and
adjudicated by an extremely.
dedicated and overworked
court system.

If nor, keep criticizing, bur Ii
try to get the facts right. :

Operations, North

Vancouver Detachment

Families Matter

Watch for information about Family Services of the North |
Shore every Sunday. We'll keep you informed about:
events and Family Life Education courses. As well, we'll :
offer advice from professionals on all aspects of family life.
We welcome your comments. :

POPC oar e ere COT ee E OO OAOOEOE THOT ECO EEOEO CSO TSO OECD ESESESEEEF OUD

255 West 1st Street
Call 984-XMAS (9627) if if |
you can help.

Parents most

often ask Dr. -
Anthony |
Wolf

- teenager act
he/she is allergic to”
me? Should | take.
‘it persorially? Or.
am | blarneless :

* inciting this kind of.
behaviour? Why is.

my teenager such .a_
monster at home and so
well behaved with
everybody else?

Join Family Services of
North Shore and Royal
Bank on February 26th to’
find out the answers.

The United Way
campaign needs
your Support.

iCated.to enriching

Call 988: ‘5281 Fax 988- 3961

#TO1.- 255 West Ist Street, North Vancouver.

1410 Clyde 4 Avenue, West Vancouver