Realwomen of BC - Archives - December2003

THE REAL NEWS The R.E.A.L WOMEN of BC Newsletter December 2003, BOX 39068, Point Grey RPO, Vancouver, BC V6R 4P1, Tel/Fax: 604- 463-1611, website: http://www.realwomen.bc.ca, e-mail: lgeschke@almatree.net Back to contents
Victims Rights - Submitted by Gertie Pool The Abbotsford, BC, Victim''s Rights movement has revived a Provincial Criminal Court watch program to keep an eye on lenient judges, and to hold judges, crown councils, parole boards and parole officers accountable. Abbotsford area residents with their 50 thousand signature petition, and the hard work of MP Randy White on Parliament Hill, were instrumental in getting a sexual offender Registry made into law. This earlier court watch program, which was disbanded in 2000 after changes were promised to improve court procedures, is revived for two reasons: recent decisions and poor judicial management. Area residents were shocked when a local judge allowed an accused pedophile, who''d served two 10 year terms for twelve sexual assaults on children, out on bail after two more alleged assaults. The judge allowed the pedophile to live three doors down from where a family with children live. A Vancouver judge released on bail another violent sex offender who sexually assaulted a woman after he''d been booted out of the first apartment where he tried to do the same. He was released on bail the next day. Residents cry out, " Just what kind of protection from the courts do woman and children have from repeat sex offenders with such lenient rulings from the Bench?" The revised court watch program also will zero in on the enormous amount of time wasted by the numerous court case adjournments due to frequent absences by defense lawyers and offenders. This irresponsible waste of court time also affects other highly paid public servants / judges, prosecutors, sheriffs, court personnel -- all at the expense of the public purse. The court watchers plan firm action to send a strong message to the Provincial Government. The Victim''s Rights Movement created a web site: address www.abbynet.com.The web site contains a court monitoring sheet, court protocol, handy reference, how to read court lists, how to monitor court proceedings, and a few sections of the criminal Code of Canada that pertain to sexual offences. It also has a Victims Speak Out Sections where victims may relay some of their frustrations, and, yes, some good results. Until we take seriously the most repulsive of crimes, we have no rights to call ourselves an enlightened society. We must not idly stand by to see victims fight their own battles when they have nothing left to fight with. Will you join us in this endeavour? For more info please e-mail victimsrights@shaw.ca.

Victims Rights