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A young male, 13 years of age, is proven guilty to the charge
of first-degree murder. He is let go with a slap on the wrist
and his identity concealed. In the same city, another young male,
23 years of age is also proven guilty to the charge of first-degree
murder. This man gets a penalty of eight years in jail and his
identity, as well as a photograph are given out to the world. |
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Both of these people were proven guilty to the charge of first-degree
murder, so should they not both get the same penalty? Well, a
slap on the wrist is a little bit of an exaggeration, but the
13 year old male doesn't get much of a penalty for his crime.
Why? Because of a little thing called the Young Offenders Act.
The Young Offenders Act protects people under the age of eighteen
from having their identity and photograph printed in the newspapers
or shown on T.V. if they commit a crime. Everybody over the age
of nine knows (or should know) right from wrong. So why, if they
commit a crime that would put an adult in jail/prison, are they
protected if they are under the age of eighteen? Should it not
be communities that get protection from violent people, of any
age?
The communities that have young murderers, rapists, etc.,
among them should know who these people are. By concealing the
information about a young offender it is putting everybody else
in possible danger while protecting the guilty young offenders
from humiliation, being outcast, and from being known as a criminal.
Young offenders seem to have more rights than the innocent
by-standers who may very well be the next victim. Criminals,
no matter how young or old, are still criminals, and should be
punished for their crimes and have their identities known to
the public, not let off the hook somewhat easily and protected
because they happen to be under the age of eighteen. The innocent
communities and victims should get the protection, and not the
criminals.
It makes me sick to know that young people can commit a serious,
or maybe not so serious crime, and be protected. It makes me
feel unsafe in my own community to think that there may be a
young murderer, rapist, etc., living in my town, and I can't
be warned because of the Young Offenders Act which protects that
young criminal from having their identity given out.
The Young Offenders Act also goes against the Canadian Charter
of Rights and Freedoms in two ways. It goes against the section
on Legal Rights, number 7, which states, "Everybody has
the right to life, liberty, and security of the person and the
right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the
principles of fundamental justice". Where is my security
if I cannot be warned a rapist lives in my community because
the rapist is under the age of eighteen? The Young Offenders
Act also goes against the section on Equality and Rights, number
15(1), which states, "Every individual is equal before and
under the law without discrimination and, in particular, without
discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour,
religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability". Protecting
young offenders because they are under the age of eighteen is
discrimination based on age. |
