Canada’s kid-glove treatment of violent criminals today — easy bail, soft sentencing, statutory release, early parole, special treatment for members of some minority groups, keeping the identities of young offenders secret even when they commit murder — didn’t happen by accident.
They were the inevitable result of criminal justice, prison and parole measures passed by Canadian federal governments starting in the 1970s.
These were initially implemented by the Liberal government of then prime minister Pierre Trudeau, which openly acknowledged its intent was “to stress the rehabilitation of individuals rather than the protection of society.” But this was also embraced by Progressive Conservatives and New Democrats of the day.
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