PAROLE IN THE WAY OF JUSTICE

With Winnipeggers arguing mightily over whether or not Daniell
Anderson is getting the prison sentence he deserves, the more pressing
issue is not the time he's been given but how much of it will he
actually serve.

Throwing him in prison is one thing but there's bigger fish to fry
when it comes to keeping criminals like him behind bars so that they
are legitimately punished.

It's a no-brainer that he should stay behind bars for a very long
time. But this is Canada's infamous parole system we're talking about.
The folks at the National Parole Board act like they've never heard of
the term do the crime, serve the time.

Justice Doug Abra's sentence of 14 years in prison for Anderson for
shooting and seriously wounding three Winnipeg police officers during
a drug raid in 2006 was right on the money.

Anything between 15 and the 20 years the Crown was seeking would have
been as Justice Abra put it "excessive."

Abra said he felt Anderson was genuinely remorseful and unlikely to
reoffend but he needed a strong prison term to denounce his
"outrageous" acts. Having said that, there was no case law for Abra to
support a 20-year sentence. As police association reps told the
Winnipeg Sun, a sentence of that length would have resulted in an
immediate appeal.

Let's be reasonable. No one was killed. This was not murder. True our
courts should be tougher on those shooting at police officers but a
20-year prison sentence for attempted murder is simply outrageous.

And then there's the kooky world of parole. Anderson could be released
on day parole after serving just one third of his sentence.

"If the 14 years meant 14 years we'd be satisfied ... (a release)
should be earned, not automatic," Mike Sutherland, president of the
Winnipeg Police Association said following Anderson's sentencing.

This is the irritating nugget that upsets everyone and not just in
Anderson's case.

Dangerous criminals, whether they shoot at cops, other criminals or
innocent, ordinary citizens get sent off to prison. They behave
saintly while being watched and then charm and impress Canada's
National Parole Board, allowing them an early ticket out. If there's
any part of our justice system that needs fixing, it's this.

But where are the feds? On parole, the cat's got their tongue.
Sutherland's suggestion is a good one. Let Canada's judges play more
of a role in deciding who gets out and who doesn't.

At the end of the day, Daniell Anderson is off to prison. That he can
see freedom in a handful of years is the only miscarriage of justice
in this case.