The Independent MHA for Mount Pearl-Southlands wants the federal government to review the Youth Criminal Justice Act and put in stronger deterrents for young offenders.
In the House of Assembly on Wednesday, Paul Lane asked provincial Justice and Public Safety Minister Bernard Davis to lobby the feds for such a review.
The call comes following a public meeting in Mount Pearl Tuesday night in response to violent incidents in the city two weeks ago, leading to the arrest of seven teenagers.
Lane says when serious, violent incidents happen involving young people questions are asked as to why they can’t be tried as adults, where sentences are stiffer and release is harder to come by.
He believes there are aspects of the act that aren’t strong enough to deter young people from committing crimes, and he wants a review to see if the legislation goes far enough.
Justice Minister Bernard Davis responded by saying he meets regularly with his provincial counterparts on a variety of issues and measures, including the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
He says they are always looking at ways to improve the system.
Meanwhile, a professor and research chair in safety, security and wellness at the Marine Institute in St. John’s is urging kindness and understanding in the wake of the recent attacks in Mount Pearl.
Rose Ricciardelli says youth crime is a complex issue and reflects changes in crime across society, both in the nature of it, and with online interactions and influences.
Ricciardelli is working on the issue with Professor Michael Ajordan of the University of Calgary.
“We really look at online realities because what we’re finding is keyboard warriors and people discussing things in online spaces, when they don’t have human interaction they don’t see the harm they’re doing, and things escalate faster when they’re encountering a person,” she said. “It’s much more violent because when they encounter someone, they have to save face.”
Those are real concerns, says Ricciardelli, adding she understands the concern in the community.
Rose Ricciardelli (X/Twitter)
“There’s a lot of things that have to be addressed, and how the community feels is really, really important,” says Ricciardelli. “People do not deserve not to feel safe in their community.
“But also the parents of those kids, there’s no reason why they should be held in this poor light because of what their children did either. I think kindness is really important here, and trying to figure out the best way forward to make these kids productive members of society in the future.”
