JUSTICE SYSTEM NEEDS GUIDELINE SENTENCING

The habitual evasion by BC Attorney General Wally Opal to serious
questions about the judicial system is distressful indeed.

As matter a fact, Wally, when most accused drug dealers in British
Columbia are set free without paying a dime, our province is become a
paradise in bloom for a growing drug culture, won't you agree?

Attorney General, perhaps the time has come to consider how other
countries handle their judicial system.

As you well know, your honour, in the world of law there are two types
of sentencing systems. The "discretionary" and the "guideline"
sentencing system.

The Canadian discretionary system makes judges decide what sentences
to hand down. In the guideline system, used by most other countries,
law makers stipulate a minimum and maximum sentence for each crime.

Then a sentencing commission sets a numerical range for each crime
based on the age of the offender and their previous
convictions.

I believe it would be prudent for the Canadian government to abandon
the old discretionary system and adopt the proven guideline sentencing
idea for a fresh new start to get with the times.

Nonetheless, I totally agree with indirect gangland victim Steve
Brown, who suggests that justice Opal be given 30 days to come up with
a plan or be asked to withdraw from his post.

Anyone interested to learn more about the guideline system can check
www.bouckslaw.com/boukcslawblog/2007/08

Gertie Pool, Court Watch

Abbotsford, B.C.