CRIME FORUM WILL DEBATE JUSTICE ISSUES

While a new federal government has promised to get tough on criminals,
this week a forum being hosted on the North Shore will examine the
nature of crime and its underlying factors and put the question of
"justice" up for debate.

The recent change in government and renewed emphasis on dealing with
crime make this week's forum particularly relevant, said Cathy Still,
past chairwoman of the North Shore Family Court and Youth Justice
Committee and one of the co-ordinators of the conference.

"What's the goal of your justice system? Is it punishment or
rehabilitation? That's very divisive politically," she said.

Often justice issues are more complicated than people realize, but
that's hard for the average person who has never been to court to
understand, she added.

Imposing minimum sentences for crime, for instance, can have
unintended consequences, such as fewer people being charged or
convicted for that crime. "There's a complex balance that goes on,"
said Still.

B.C.'s Attorney General Wally Oppal, a former B.C. Supreme Court
justice, will give the keynote speech Saturday morning, 10:45 a.m. at
Capilano College Theatre.

The rest of the conference, which will draw both professionals and
community members from around the province to discuss justice issues
this Friday and Saturday, is primarily focused on the issue of youth
crime.

That's also the area where the North Shore's justice committee -
funded by all three municipalities to the tune of about $60,000
annually - has concentrated its efforts in tracking changes in the
justice system and advocating for services, such as the Youth Safe
House.

"It's where we might make a difference," said Kathleen Glynn-Morris,
the current chairwoman of the justice committee who is also organizing
the conference. The group collects statistics and also tracks changes
through its Court Watch program.

Since the change from the Young Offenders Act to the Youth Criminal
Justice Act, very few youth found guilty of crime are sentenced to
custody, said Still. She said her group has also noticed fewer charges
being laid against young people.

In general, however, the statistics don't support the idea that crime
is more rampant today compared to past years, said Still. "There's a
lot of misinformation around that."

Members of the Vancouver Police Department, North Vancouver RCMP,
youth probation workers, mental health workers and child protection
will be among those on had for panel discussions.

The concept of community courts, being discussed as a possibility for
B.C., will also be discussed, with commentary from a judge and others
involved in Seattle's community court system. Community courts have
been set up in some cities to deal with less serious chronic crimes
and to help address social issues including homelessness, drug
addictions and mental illness that frequently go along with them.

Most importantly, the conference will be a chance to hear from people
who are "on the ground" in the justice system, rather than "policy
wonks," say the organizers.

Members of the public can sign up for the two-day event that takes
place at Capilano College at www.civicinfo.bc.ca/Conference/justice2006.asp.