PERSECUTION?

Remarks made recently in a courtroom by a North Vancouver provincial court
Judge Judith Gedye might cause us to question the state of the criminal
justice system.

In handing down a recent sentence, the judge told a convicted drug dealer
and addict that if he went to jail, he would risk becoming a prime
candidate for "shark bait" for other inmates.

"You'd be in protective custody within minutes of meeting your first jail
mate," the judge said.

She also told the man that if he ended up being thrown behind bars "you
won't survive the jail sentence."

Granted, the tradition of judges lecturing convicts from the bench during
sentencing isn't new.

At best, a judge's words to the person being sentenced serve as an object
lesson to society: both a condemnation of criminal actions and a wake-up
call about what will happen if an individual continues down the path of crime.

These particular comments about jail, however, went beyond the norm.

We know that jail is not supposed to be a nice - or even comfortable -
place to spend time, but to hear a judge insist it's a place where some
inmates should fear for their lives is more than a little concerning.

We've all heard of countries where being thrown in jail is tantamount to a
death sentence. But the last time we checked, Canada wasn't one of them.
Nor should we aspire to be.

Punishment, rehabilitation and deterrence are all legitimate factors to
consider when contemplating a jail sentence. Fearmongering and vengeance
shouldn't be.