KAMLOOPS RESIDENTS are getting tired of the phrase, “known to police.”
Hearing it mentioned in every crime-related news story elicits groans and eye rolls from the law-abiding population.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that the people who commit all manner of crimes are criminals.
People react with incredulity that suggests they believe all criminals, no matter the seriousness of the crime, should be locked up and away from the public indefinitely.
In reality, what Canada needs is a detention system that better rehabilitates offenders and prepares them to stay out of trouble when they get out.
Because they will get out.
It seems almost cliched that Norway is doing things the right way, but it’s still true.
As of 2014, Norway’s incarceration rate was about 75 per 100,000 people.
That’s well below Canada’s rate of about 118 per 100,000.
But more impressive is Norway’s recidivism rate, which was about 20 per cent.
Meanwhile in Canada, about eight in 10 male and seven in 10 female convicts had previous convictions.
In other words, it’s no wonder you hear that phrase “known to police” so often.
Norway relies heavily on restorative justice, a concept that many “tough on crime” folks dismiss as a bleeding heart avenue for coddling criminals.
If it works, though, it works.
And it makes sense: those who harm society should do everything possible to repair that harm.
Maybe violent criminals can’t undo the harm they have done, but they should be led to contribute something of value to the world.
That’s what restorative justice aims for.
Perhaps if we seek to implement restorative justice principles more broadly in our correctional system, we won’t have to hear “known to police” – or any crime story – nearly as often.
I’m James Peters.
