LOTS OF CRIME, FEW CRIMINALS

Do you think we live in a safe community? If you do, you may be
fooling yourself.

In his presentation entitled Let's Stop Being Stupid About Crime, Dr.
Darryl Plecas - a 29 year veteran of the UFV criminology department,
director of the Centre for Criminal Justice Research, and RCMP
research chair in crime reduction - told the crowd at Wednesday's
Chamber luncheon that when it comes to crime statistics, we may not be
as safe as we thought.

"Canada has nothing to be proud of. We are consistently above the
average," Plecas said.

That fact is more shocking when you take into account that the U.S.
has seen a steady decline in its crime rate over the past few years.

And Canada's crime rate gets even worse if you factor in other
data.

"What about all the crimes that people don't report," asked Plecas.
"The so-called victimless crimes."

But apparently, it's the number of crimes that are high, not the
number of offenders.

"People need to realize that we don't have a lot of criminals, we have
a small collection of very prolific ones," he said.

While Plecas is quick to compliment the police force, and the
corrections department, his praise ends when it comes to our justice
system.

"What does our court system do?" he asked.

According to Plecas, the sentences that judges impose on repeat
offenders do nothing to deter their behaviours.

"I'll fine you $200, that will make you a better person. I'll send you
to jail for three months and after, we expect that you won't do it
again, and we can all feel safer. That is nonsense!" he said.

With criminals constantly being slapped on the wrist, Plecas says
there is no end in sight.

"The court system needs a complete overhaul."

But does Plecas see changes coming in the near future?

"I'm not holding my breath. The court system hasn't changed in 50
years."

During a brief question period, Plecas was asked if he felt the
legalization of marijuana and other drugs would help decrease the
number of crimes.

"I am not a fan of decriminalizing marijuana," he said.

However he is in favour of controlling some substance abuse problems
through prescriptions. Plecas says that by allowing physicians to
prescribe certain drugs, to "medicalize" addicts, is a plausible way
to help them get off the drugs and stop their need to commit crimes to
feed their habit.

While he admits it sounds terrible, Plecas says that it can
work.

"Chemotherapy is bad for you too, but it is the lesser of two evils,"
he said.

Crime facts:

During Plecas' presentation, he mentioned several stats people may find
surprising. According to Plecas:

- - There are 20,000 grow ops in B.C. right now.

- - There are more than 100 known organized crime groups/gangs in B.C.,
compared with two years ago, when police knew of about eight to 10
criminal organizations.

- - 45 per cent of people who commit crimes are repeat
offenders.

- - In a three-month period, 120 commercial break and enters were
committed by one individual.