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May 09, 2006

Proposed mandatory minimum penalties and conditional sentencing reforms.

Mandatory minimum penalties (MMPs) and conditional sentencing reforms are currently working their way through Parliament highlighting the importance of defence counsel to ensure that people in Canada accused of serious criminal offences receive fair treatment and due process within the Canadian criminal justice system.

The MMP changes, as proposed, impose mandatory penalties for gun and weapons offences for both “use” (e.g., where a restricted or prohibited firearm is used in the commission of a crime) and “non-use” criminal activity including unauthorized possession, trafficking, and smuggling of restricted or prohibited firearms and ammunition.

Similarly, the conditional sentencing reform bill removes the possibility of receiving a conditional sentence for anyone convicted of a violent crime, serious or major drug offence or impaired driving causing death or bodily harm.

To read the May 4 press release on the proposed MMP legislation click here.

For the government’s backgrounder click here.

To review the announcement on the conditional sentencing reform bill click here.

For the backgrounder click here.

Posted by BCCLB at May 9, 2006 09:09 PM