Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Canadian Government Introduces New Gang-Related Legislation

jolinar of malkshor · 02-26-2009, 07:25 PM

They should introduce legislation making it an offence to intimidate a witness of a crime with a maximum punishment of life in prison. One of the big reasons why charges don't stick to these gang members is because the victim and the community are to scared to testify. Being able to testify in court is key to our democratic process and once that has been taken away by fear we lose a lot.

It is not just the judges that are a probem. The prosecutors are at fault as well. Right now we have minimum sentences for gun crimes. Many of these gang members are originally charged with gun crimes but they get pleaded down by the prosecutors inorder for the gang members to plead to lesser charges.

02-26-2009, 07:25 PM	#13
jolinar of malkshor #1 Goaltender Join Date: May 2006 Exp:	They should introduce legislation making it an offence to intimidate a witness of a crime with a maximum punishment of life in prison. One of the big reasons why charges don't stick to these gang members is because the victim and the community are to scared to testify. Being able to testify in court is key to our democratic process and once that has been taken away by fear we lose a lot. It is not just the judges that are a probem. The prosecutors are at fault as well. Right now we have minimum sentences for gun crimes. Many of these gang members are originally charged with gun crimes but they get pleaded down by the prosecutors inorder for the gang members to plead to lesser charges. Last edited by jolinar of malkshor; 02-26-2009 at 10:16 PM.