Police in general believe that harsher penalties and mandatory minimum sentences will both deter and incapacitate the offender and thus are valuable tools in the fight against crime. Unfortunately, it may not be that straightforward. While there is some evidence that mandatory minimum sentences will deter criminals, the prolific offender--and those are the 2% or 3% who commit 80% to 85% of the crime--is less likely to be deterred. Members of this group generally are not calculators who weigh the cost and benefits of their crime. This is from Thomas Gabor and Nicole Crutcher from the University of Ottawa.
It's more obvious that when an offender is incarcerated, he's incapacitated. The threat to the community is eliminated through his lack of access to it, but he may be a greater threat upon his release. Prison allows him to learn his craft better and provides him the opportunity to increase his network. Some--gang members in particular--may see prison as a rite of passage. Of course, for some offenders who are beyond redemption, prison may be the only way to protect our communities.
Mandatory minimum sentences have an impact at the time an offender first comes into contact with the law. A longer sentence can take away the incentive to plead guilty, thus resulting in more trials. This would of course add pressure to police resources.
At first contact with police, an offender may respond more violently if he knows he's going to jail for a longer period of time. On the other hand, a stiffer penalty may offer the offender sufficient incentive to provide information to police about other criminal activity in the community. It may also provide the prosecutor greater sway in plea negotiations for a different charge.
As you can see, it's not a simple black or white situation.
As I noted earlier, the RCMP is piloting a crime reduction strategy in British Columbia, which is beginning to show results. It combines hard-hitting enforcement with a holistic approach to identifying root causes of crime. The key here is a strong commitment from key stakeholders in the community, including the departments of public safety, health, social services and housing, addiction services, probation, prosecutors, Correctional Service of Canada, the department of education, and family services--there is a whole list.
Prime Minister Harper said:
It is equally important that we prevent criminal behaviour before it has a chance to take root. To this end, the Government will work with the provinces and territories to help communities provide hope and opportunity for our youth, and end the cycle of violence that can lead to broken communities and broken lives.
In fact, I've already seen evidence of support from the federal government in some of these programs, and it's beginning to work.
Thank you very much.