Criminal Code review board chairs across Canada state that the Conservative government’s Criminal Code change to the Not Criminally Responsible bill is misdirected. Once again, the government did not engage in consultation in proposing the changes, which take a punative, ideologically driven approach to dealing with mentally-ill individuals who commit offences. The bill pits offenders against victims. It will likely increase court time for cases of mental illness, and may make it more difficult for offenders to plead mental health issues in case they find themselves embroiled in hearings similar to “dangerous offender” hearings which leave you remanded to a secure treatment facility, essentially imprisoned for much longer periods of time.
Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice
A national faith-based organization that supports Unitarian values through action
