OLDS, Alta. — What to do with kids who break the law was vigorously debated recently by the Women of Unifarm.
They presented resolutions requesting stiffer penalties for young criminals and revamping of the Young Offenders Act.
Margaret Blanchard said many people don’t know enough about the act that has aroused crowds to march in rallies demanding tougher laws for young people who have strayed.
She recommended a video called Law of the Land which will be shown in schools so young people can actually see what happens if they are charged with a crime.
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During the debate at the annual meeting in Olds, both she and Elizabeth Olsen, former presidents of the organization, said societal change must occur and people need to understand what drives 12- to 18-year-olds into trouble. Parents must also be held more responsible for their children’s behavior.
“We have to really put some pressure on the parents of these children,” said Blanchard. “We can do all we like with the Young Offenders Act, but we’ve got to change society.”
Olsen agreed. “Young offenders have to pay the consequences and they have to be responsible for their actions. But I also think that we as a society have to be responsible to those young people for some of the values we have been teaching.”
Among the resolutions demanding changes, the group agreed that young offenders’ names should be published to make families aware that their children are causing trouble and that the rest of the community doesn’t approve. They also want serious penalties imposed on teenagers who commit violent crimes.
A petition was circulated by Helen Tymkow of Westlock who attended a Mother’s Day rally in Edmonton demanding stiffer penalties. The rally was prompted by the recent murder of an Edmonton woman who discovered teenaged intruders in her home. She was stabbed to death.
At Whitecourt, two men have been charged with kidnapping and assault after two teenagers were caught after they were believed to have stolen some property. While the women agreed they don’t approve of vigilantes, some agreed that they could understand people taking the law into their own hands.
The Women of Unifarm are not alone in their concerns.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association also passed a resolution at its meeting recently demanding that schools be informed about the presence of young offenders in their school, particularly those students charged with violent crimes or sexual assault.
Realizing the Young Offenders Act is a federal matter, Alberta still plans to set up a review panel that will travel around the province this summer gathering people’s views on how the act should be changed.
