Unintuitive compassion
There are certain things that happen in the justice system that are counterintuitive.
Last week, Patrick Reis, a Provincial Court judge, designated 31-year-old Ian Desjarlais a long-term offender (LTO).
Desjarlais pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm for an attack on his common-law partner near Melville while driving drunk and obstruction of justice for attempting to intimidate the victim into recanting while he was in remand.
Reis sentenced Desjarlais to 13 months on the assault in addition to the two years, five months he has already served. The judge added another 23 months consecutive on the obstruction charge and seven years of long-term supervision upon his release.
There are few things people value more than their freedom, so it is hard to imagine that three years in prison followed by seven years of close supervision might be in a person’s best interest, but it is entirely possible that might be the case here.
At 31-years-old, Desjarlais is still a young guy. In that short amount of time, though, he has wracked up a pretty extensive criminal history, including significant violence, hence the LTO.
On the other hand, according to the Court, he is personable, intelligent, has skills and supports on the outside.
And he’ll still only be 34 when he’s released to the community and just over 40 when his LTO is up, providing, of course, he stays out of trouble.
After reading his decision, Judge Reis told Desjarlais he has a lot of good things going on, but also a lot of problems he has to work on.
While it is undoubtedly disappointing not to be released or at least have a short transition as argued by the defence, it may well be his best chance at having a future outside the correctional system. At least that’s what the judge compassionately thinks.
Strategic compassion
With the latest terrorist attacks in Belgium, it is extremely tempting to lust for blood.
Just four days after one of the organizers of the Paris nightclub attacks was arrested in Brussels, at least 34 people are dead and almost 200 have been injured after suicide bombers exploded devices at an airport and subway station.
While it is exceptionally difficult not to beat the drums of revenge, we must resist. We must not play into the political hands of the forces opposing the Western way of life.
We must rise above our basest instincts and treat these offenders with due process and compassion. It is all that separates us from being just like the barbarians these terrorists are.
Compassion for the dying
The first physician-assisted death in Ontario last week is another indication Canada is finally on its way to being a truly compassionate society. This was made possible 13 months ago by the Supreme Court of Canada decision in Carter v. Canada (Attorney General) to strike down Section 241 that makes it illegal to aid or abet someone to commit suicide.
The Court gave the federal government and provinces a year and then an extension of four months to craft legislation, but also gave individuals leave to petition lower courts for an exemption.
Last Thursday, the Ontario Superior Court granted an 81-year-old, who was only identified as A.B. because of medical privacy laws, permission to have doctors help end his life. On Friday, they did.
Hallelujah.
Compassion for the unlucky
Sometimes you just have to throw up your hands and say ‘poor bugger.’
Tristen Andrews, by all indications a dude who was just selling a few grams of pot here and there had the misfortune of getting a cell number assigned that was just one digit off that of an RCMP constable’s.
When would-be purchaser’s started texting the police officer, it was perhaps inevitable that Tristen was destined for arrest. Talk about a bust falling into your lap.
He did get off pretty easy, though, with just probation. With luck like that, though, he might want to steer clear of crime in the future.
