I can't conceive of, and I don't think anyone here can conceive of, all the situations and all the individuals who come before them. Those of you who have practised law or have been in courts will have seen, on occasion, a case for which jail makes no sense. It's a rare case, but we'll see it. It is for those cases that conditional sentences, certainly in the examples you raised, would be appropriate, and at the end of the day I do think they make communities safer. This woman who killed her sister will be a better person; if she has the treatment she needs, it's not going to happen to her again. But I can't give you the same promise if you put her in jail for 9, 10, 11, or 12 months.
On October 17th, 2006. See this statement in context.