So the disturbing news today from StatsCan is that drug related crime by young people in this country has doubled since 1996. Nearly 1800 youth were accused of drug related offences in 2006. “Oh, that’s just the police picking on marijuana users”, you say? Um, no, cocaine and other drug offences also doubled.

Some would have you believe that this problem isn’t really a problem, and point out that youth crime overall has decreased by 25% since 1991. Small comfort when you realize that that statistic does not take into account the types of crimes that are being committed. Violent crimes, including murders, increased 12 percent between 1996 and 2006, and 30% since 1991. Well that’s wonderful news isn’t it? Fewer kids are spray-painting alleyways, but more of them are killing people.

Youth crime increased by 3% between 2005 and 2006. That may not sound like much, but extrapolate that trend over 10 years and you have a 30% increase in crime by young people by 2016.

The biggest insult in all of this is that the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which replaced the already ludicrous Young Offenders act requires police to use non court measures for youths who have committed less serious offences. Well I call that a load of bull, if anyone under 17 is committing any offence at all, it’s a serious issue, and I don’t care what it is. But if we really must avoid traditional criminal justice for youth, then I suggest those convicted be forced into the military and shipped off to Afghanistan. Maybe the possibility of being killed by a religious zealot in the middle east will make joining that street gang less attractive.

The again, if your are in a gang, you’re probably too stupid to think about the consequences of going to Afghanistan anyway.

Source: CTV.ca News