Majority of Canadians believe justice system “too lenient”
A new poll from the Angus Reid Institute reveals that most Canadians want a tougher justice system, with a majority supporting stricter sentencing and bail reform.
A new poll from the Angus Reid Institute reveals that most Canadians want a tougher justice system, with a majority supporting stricter sentencing and bail reform.
The survey found “broad agreement” among Canadians that the judicial system is not “tough enough on offenders,” with three in five saying the country needs stricter approaches to crime (59 per cent) rather than greater emphasis on social supports (32 per cent).
Other key findings from the survey published Friday revealed that “confidence in provincial criminal courts has fallen to some of the lowest levels seen in a decade.”
Only 34 per cent of respondents said they “have confidence in their provincial courts,” compared to 44 per cent in 2016.
Meanwhile, only half of respondents had “confidence in the RCMP,” at 51 per cent.
Political leanings played a role in respondents’ perspectives on crime, with Conservative voters far more likely to say the justice system is too lenient at 89 per cent, compared to only 56 per cent of Liberal voters.
The Carney government has proposed a suite of measures under Bill C-14 to implement stricter sentencing and tougher bail conditions, such as expanding the application of “reverse onus” bail. This would make it so the accused must argue for the right to release while on trial.
Bill C-14 would also require consecutive sentences for multiple convictions, ban conditional sentences for those accused of certain sexual offences, and increase penalties for organized retail theft.
While the overwhelming majority of Canadians believe these to be good ideas, respondents were still divided on whether this suite of changes will ultimately reduce crime in any meaningful way. In fact, “the vast majority say they will help at least a little.”
When asked what was the root cause of Canada’s rising crime rates, the overwhelming majority blamed a justice system that “is too lenient” at 73 per cent.
Other factors such as drug use and addiction, homelessness, and poverty were also cited.
“That said, the top choice as a major factor is justice system leniency,” reads the study. “Three-quarters say this is a major factor. For a certain portion of the population, about two-in-five, these personal economic and social factors should not be a consideration in sentencing.”