CRIME PLAN HAS ITS DOUBTERS

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says his new strategy to combat crime
will work, but one local criminologist isn't so sure.

Harper's Conservative government pledged to push for tougher prison
sentences in its speech from the throne yesterday.

But Dr. Robert Gordon, director of SFU's school of criminology, said
locking criminals up for longer doesn't mean they'll be angels when
they get out.

"The problem with any policy of extended incarceration is that sooner
or later, the person has to be released," Gordon said in an
interview. "If they're released from prison without new skills and
new attitudes, then they're simply going to be bigger and better offenders."

Gordon said without attention and resources paid to rehabilitating
offenders, longer prison terms just delay the inevitable release of
"hardened and embittered" individuals.

The throne speech yesterday observed, "Our safe streets and healthy
communities are increasingly under threat of gun, gang and drug violence."

Gordon called the statement "political rhetoric which traditionally
bears no resemblance to reality."

According to the most recent provincial stats, B.C.'s crime rate
"stabilized" in 2004 at 125.2 incidences per 1,000 people, one of its
lowest levels in 20 years.

B.C. CRIME RATE (incidences per 1,000 people):

1996: 138.3

2004: 125.2

VIOLENT CRIME RATE:

1996: 14.14

2004: 11.95

- - Source: Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General