John Howard Society opposes proposed pardon changes!

Manitoba groups oppose pardon changes

The Manitoba chapter of a Canadian prisoners' rights organization is attacking a proposed tightening of laws surrounding criminal pardons.

 

The John Howard Society held a press conference in Winnipeg Thursday to condemn sweeping changes to the pardon system proposed by the federal government.

Introduced in Parliament in May, Bill C-23 would eliminate pardons and replace them with more narrowly defined criminal record suspensions.

The most notable change the government is seeking is hiking the amount of time a criminal must wait before being able to apply for a pardon.

People who commit indictable — or serious — crimes would have to wait 10 years before being eligible, up from the current five years.

As well, offenders who have more than three convictions for serious crimes would be denied record suspensions, and some sex offenders would never be eligible.

But Manitoba's executive director of the prisoners' society said Thursday the changes would make society less safe by hampering an offender's ability to return to society.

'Someone has to point out that it does not serve public safety to make it harder for people to reintegrate after a prison sentence.'—John Hutton

"Someone has to point out that it does not serve public safety to make it harder for people to reintegrate after a prison sentence," said John Hutton.

"It's costly, because they will have to live on public assistance, and its counterproductive, because we should want them to find a job and go straight," he said.

96 per cent success

Hutton offered statistics from the National Parole Board showing out of 400,000 pardons granted in the last 40 years, only 4,000 have been revoked after an offender committed another crime.

"In other words, the current system enjoys a 96 per cent success rate," a statement from the society said. "That's an A-plus by any standard — why is any change needed at all?," the statement reads.

The recent push for changes to the pardon system stemmed from public outrage over the case of Graham James, who pleaded guilty in 1997 to sexual assault.

Sheldon Kennedy, who went on to play in the NHL, and a second unnamed player had come forward with accounts of the sexual abuse they suffered when James coached their Western Hockey League teams from 1984 to 1995.

The parole board granted James a pardon in 2007 after he completed a 3½-year prison sentence — but the news only came to light in April after a previously unknown accuser contacted Winnipeg police.

The National Parole Board said in an explanation issued April 5 that it could not refuse a pardon based on the nature of a crime.

Aboriginal group wants bill quashed

Hutton was flanked at an afternoon news conference by representatives of eight other social-welfare agencies opposed to the changes, including the Mennonite Central Committee and Manitoba's Southern Chiefs organization.

The SCO's director of justice, Nahanni Fontaine said the changes would only further marginalize aboriginal criminals already disproportionately represented in prisons.

"Aboriginal citizens who have completed their programs and sentence will have to bear the stigma of a criminal past twice as long under the new rules, and in many cases permanently," Fontaine said.

I completely agree with the John Howard Society. Limiting pardons even further and restricting some from even being granted one, decreases the likelihood of successful reintegration for past offenders. Pardons severely limit employment opportunities, housing and travel opportunities. Unemployment can lead to further re-offending, and the ex-offender is more likely to resort back to criminal activity to earn money. We as a society need to facilitate and foster rehabilitation and successful reintegration and by limiting it, we take the risk of society becoming less safe. Making it more difficult for someone to successfully reintegrate into society, by obtaining employment, etc. is not in society's best interests. 97% of those granted pardons since 1970 have been successful in leading crime free lives, so why is change needed? This is drive-by policy making on the Conservatives' part. They want to make changes to the whole pardon system just because of ONE exceptional and rare case (that of Graham James). This is not reasonable, rational or logical. These changes would also further marginalize aboriginal criminals, who are already disproportionately represented in prisons. These pardon changes are not needed, in any way. 

Once people have served their prison sentence, they should be allowed to move on with their lives and become productive, law abiding citizens once again. Changes to the pardon system would only make reintegration even more difficult. If these people have completed their prison sentences, we should not further deprive and punish them, by denying them the right to be pardoned. We need to give people the chance to turn their lives around, improve themselves and make better choices. What happened to that? There is no reason why someone with a criminal record of any sort, should be labeled with their past offences for the remainder of their lives. We cannot assume that every person convicted of a criminal offence is dangerous to society for the rest of their lives! Many criminals made one poor choice or mistake and they should not have to live with that record for a longer period of time, before being allowed to have a pardon. Further labeling somebody as a criminal simply creates a society in which we perpetuate the cycle of crime. Has anybody ever heard of the labelling theory? We need to give past criminals, second chances at succeeding at life. People convicted of all sorts of crimes go on to live productive, non-criminal lives. Pardons acknowledge that people can and do change. Once they have done their time, they should not be denied opportunities for a better life. 

The proposed legislation is reactionary and unfair. We should not punish and deprive now innocent people, for the rest of their lives for a crime which they have already served their sentence.

The majority of people who are pardoned, do NOT re-offend! (97%). To me, this demonstrates that they have moved beyond their past criminal lifestyle and have become productive, law abiding citizens. Why should we make it harder for these people to reintegrate into society and to improve their lives? Why do we want to further deprive and punish them? What is the purpose? Knee-jerk response by the government to one sensational case, will not bring society to a better place. 

We should be looking at preventing crimes from happening in the first place, by providing employment assistance, reducing poverty, addictions, unemployment and helping those socially disadvantaged and marginalized populations through social programming. This would stop people from being driven towards crime due to addictions, poverty, unemployment, negative peer influences, etc. We also need to provide a supportive framework for those with a criminal record to move beyond their criminal past and become law abiding members of society. The pardon system is an integral part of an individual's successful reintegration into the law abiding society. We should not further limit, deprive and punish those who have a criminal record from their past. We need to facilitate reintegration and rehabilitation by giving these individuals second chances to improve their lives and become productive citizens once again. Unemployment caused by a criminal record, increases the chances of one returning to a criminal lifestyle to obtain funds and decreases the likelihood of successful reintegration. That is not in society's best interests. 


Comments that amount to "you break the law you pay for life" are laughable. I think the vast majority of adult Canadians, including many who think they are holier than thou, could easily find themselves with a criminal record if there were the resources to detect and catch everyone who breaks a law. Have you declared every penny you owe in income tax? Have you paid every tax you owe or have you sometimes paid cash for jobs or products in order to avoid taxes? Do you have a weapon or ammunition that is in any way in contravention of the law? Or, are you one of those who thinks that the law (e.g., gun registry) is so flawed that it is okay to break it? Have you ever hit anyone? Have you ever helped yourself to a little something (e.g., a few grapes for example) in the grocery store?

I'm sure people get my point.

I thought we lived in a country that allowed people to pay their debt to society and then move on with their life. What happened to giving people a chance to turn their life around and make better choices? We give that much to addicts and alcoholics, and I see no reason why someone with a criminal record of any sort should be labeled with his/her past offences for the remainder of their life. We cannot assume that every person convicted of a criminal offence is a menace to society for all time. Relegating someone to that corner simply creates a society in which we perpetuate the cycle of crime. Do we assume that every person convicted of drunk driving cannot ever be trusted behind the wheel ever again? No, we don't. People get their licences back all the time and never re-offend. There are people convicted of all sorts of crimes that go on to live productive, non-criminal lives. Once they've done their time, they don't owe the world their submission and they should not be denied opportunities for a better life. The proposed legislation is reactionary and unfair. We should not go on punishing people for the rest of their lives for a crime for which they have already served their sentence, and that seems to be what many posters on this board are suggesting.

The majority of people who get a pardon DO NOT REOFFEND (96%) .This to me shows that they are pretty happy to move beyond their criminal past and become law abiding citizens. Why should we make it even harder for these people to improve their lives? This is just another one of Harpers knee-jerk reactions, just look at how he treated helena guergis, this bill is only one of many attempts by the conservatives to hurt the people who are already down and out. But should we really be surprised? We all know the conservatives are for private healthcare, big business and big money. For more detailed info on record suspension, and to see how I can pick apart just about EVERY single change harper and toews are proposing, check out my blog at www.recordsuspensions.org.

 

I agree with the John Howard Society on many points: firstly we should be looking at preventing the crimes from happening in the first place. More social programs, employment assistance, etc would stop a lot of people from being driven to crime becuase of drugs, poverty, and other similar factors. Secondly, we need to provide a supportive framework for those with a criminal record to move past their criminal past, and become law abiding members of society. The pardon system is an integral part of an individuals successful rehabilitation into law abiding society. For more info on pardons, what they are, how to get one, etc etc, please visit my blog at www.blog.pardons.ca

 

Its amazing how people blare out percieved stats with actual no knowledge of reality.

"The majority of parolees "Reoffend" once they're back in society and that's why Bill C-23 is needed."

That is out right incorrect. Many youth offenders reoffend that is true. But the vast majority of parolees do not reoffend. In fact Canada has one of the lowest redivism rates in the world.

And when we look at the rates it dependent on the type of crime Federal or Provincial instituion. Ful parole day parole, technical violation, non technical or new crime.

The over all number is 37.1% of those released on parol are brought back in, with the vast majority of that for technical violations of there parol. With less then 13% being brought back in during parole for a new crime.

And 95% of offenders released who have done there entire sentence + parole, never re-enter the system.

So how is that *Majority*

Also our justise system is about rehabilitation. So once you have done your time paid your due to society. Why then would we wish to punish them a further 10 years preventing there travel or ability to work?


SO yes its nice to say don't do a crime, and thats not the issue. The issue is we believe in bringing people back into society. And for the most part it works. So once you pay your debit to society, show you are reformed, show you are a productive member of society. Why then continue to make them pay?

 

the majority of criminals do not re-offend. The majority of crime is committed by people who are career criminals but the majority of people convicted of a crime in this country never re-offend. Most are young men who have made a terrible mistake and are profoundly changed by the system to the point where they do it fact turn their lives around completely and become fully productive members of society. To deny anyone this opportunity for ten years serves no public interest whatsoever besides appealing to the kind of anti-social bigots who regular this site and come out in full force whenever a crime story is reported.

 

This is an emotional subject for some of the Victim's Families but we can't let our Government pick and choose who gets a pardon and who doesn't. I too agree a person's mistakes in the past should not be carried around forever with them. I have heard that although a person may get a pardon, the record still shows up... on CPIC and other international criminal checks. True?

yes this is true. Sex offenders records are always available with a police check when the job requires working with disadvantaged groups such as children, the elderly, and the disabled. all a pardon means is that people can claim that they have no record and can apply for most jobs without their record surfacing.

Facebook Group: Everyone deserves the right to earn a pardon

Recent news outlets have been debating the new pardon law the conservatives are trying to pass. The new law would make serious criminal offenders wait 10 years (as oppose to the current 5) before being eligible to receive a pardon. Despite what many believe pardons are not given out like candy. during those 5 years a criminal must prove that they have successfully integrated back into society. I believe everyone deserves the right to live a life beyond the mistakes they have made in the past. If you agree that people can change then please support this group and stop the conservatives from making another gross injustice on our society.