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10/07/07
Clifford Olsen: The Beast of BC
By Lee Hanlon
Clifford Olsen, the Beast of BC murdered 11 children in cold blood. He has served 25 years and according to the law he has the right to apply for parole every two years. Of course Prisoners’ rights advocates support this. Victims’ rights advocates (this writer included) say otherwise.
And according to Craig Jones, the new executive director of the John Howard Society (as said in the Report Magazine’s September 2007 edition) “It is dangerous to start formulating law on the basis of a few extreme cases. It’s due process, and due process of law protects even the small handful because it protects everybody or tries to. Jones goes on to say that, “Victims’ of crime don’t belong in the justice system.”
Jones goes on to say, “One thing we know for sure is that people don’t become nicer in prison. By and large, prison tends to harden and embittered, and if we don’t have mechanisms for safe reintegration, then we just endanger our societies. Shifting ever closer to a U.S. style of criminal justice by putting more people in jail longer through policies such as consecutive sentences, bail and parole reform and mandatory minimum sentences – all of which are contained in the Conservative platform and are supported by victims – does not get at the route causes of crime.”
It is beyond me how anyone can be so baffled by the prevailing tough-on-crime attitude of both the government and the public. It also baffles this writer as to how those like Craig can arrogantly dismiss victims’ rights. It is people like Jones that create havoc on truth in justice. It is people like Jones that give more rights to the criminals and brushes off the rights of the victims.
Jones, like all other left wing Liberals that would prefer to see the demise of Canada's Correctional system and put in place the questionable Restorative Justice program. For the offender just to say, “I’m sorry” and then go home.
Just like those left wing Liberals who want to take away the parents’ rights to discipline their children. A punishment-free society. Because those who believe in punishment are barbarians. And what of the victims? Do they not count?
Those on the left advocate the abolishment of punishment, corporal and capital. Those on the right advocate for the protection of society. What side are you on? The wrong……I mean the left side of the camp? Or do you believe in what is right? Let the offender go with a slap on the wrist? Or get tough on crime and seek out truth in justice?