Thank you.
I'm now in the uncomfortable situation of speaking out of both sides of my mouth.
If it is the will of the majority of this committee to limit the discretion of judges, then it's our position that if you're going to give them direction then you'd better make it damn clear.
What LIB-36 does is it says to judges that if you're going to set about imposing an adult sentence, the standard to be applied is the criminal standard of “beyond a reasonable doubt” and no other standard, which makes it consistent with our Constitution, and makes it crystal clear that if you're going down that road they're entitled to the criminal burden of proof.
So while we would urge upon you that the judges should be given discretion, as I indicated in my earlier remarks, if you disagree with that and you're going to tie their hands, make sure you make it real clear and make sure that young people are entitled to the benefit of the doubt before they're handed an adult sentence.
That's the purpose of that amendment.
Thank you.