10 signatures reached
To: BC Government
Alternate court system and folllow up for fetal alcohol subjects
It is past time for BC to consider an alternative to our court system in dealing with individuals suffering from fetal alcohol and drug syndrome similar to that now being used in Manitoba. They have special courts dedicated to hearing charges against individuals deemed to have FAS and with judges who understand the effects this illness has on individuals. A person who has committed murder can get off on the basis of not criminally responsible based on a mental illness. But a person with FAS charged with aggressive or violent behavior is charged and sentenced to jail. Get released with no treatment or sensible options and simply becomes a repeat offender spending much of their life in jail.
1. We need to develop an alternate court system or at the very least have only specially trained judges deal with FAS persons
2. We must develop alternatives to jail and a place on release from jail. Unfortunately many of these people do require some form of structure and control if we are to avoid the social and economic costs of the status quo. For these persons some form of minimum security, with structure and a means of working to keep busy and be more or less self sustaining is essential. For example there are years of work available for crews to carry out fire proofing around communities, bush camps cutting and selling firewood, small intensive farming. These examples are not without cost but are less costly socially and economically than doing nothing.
Why is this important?
There are hundreds of people languishing in prisons in BC, many being young people, who in many instances have only committed minor crimes but are repeat offenders with FAS. In cases I am aware of the judge gave no consideration to the person having FAS and he has been in and out of jail with no treatment available in prison and no sensible alternative on release from prison. Many of these people are vulnerable to use by others in carrying out illegal activities and become the "fall guy". They are often shunned by many and hence seek approval wherever they can find it.
The result is we have more persons in society who do commit crimes as they are often unable to understand the consequences of their actions. The cost to tax payers for supporting hundreds, or more likely thousands, of such people in prison is huge. Hence the cost of status quo is both a public safety issue as well as an economic one.
And lastly the cost and mental anguish for parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters is beyond belief unless you have walked a mile in their shoes.