Our Criminal Code sets out degrees of murder as first, second or manslaughter with appropriate guidelines for Judges and Juries on the penalties for the guilty.
Sentences or penalties for other crimes, felonies, and misdemeanors have guidelines as well, with minimum and maximum sentences. The discretion of judges in sentencing leaves much to the judges’ personal feelings, understanding of charges, the arguments of the lawyers, and the character of the accused. There may be times when the sentence seems to the public or the victim of the crime to be too lenient and occasionally, too harsh.
Perhaps it is time to give a little assistance in determining the judicial sentencing rules. We need a new category that can be added to the criminal charge that will indicate to the judge that a maximum sentence is required in this particular incident. The category could be “despicable” or in our other official language, “méprisable”. Take, for instance, the charge against the scoundrels who looted the home of Mayor Lavigne when they heard he had passed. That seems to me an example of the need to have the despicable category appended to the charges.
Looting the dead is nothing new in human behaviour but searching the obits for funeral times when people may be absent attending the service of a loved one and then looting or burgling their homes is the act of despicable people. The perpetrators of these acts likely rationalize them as crimes of opportunity - in the same category as stealing Fed-Ex packages from doorsteps or taking things from unlocked cars. However, when the police, and then the public, call a crime ‘despicable’ it is time for the judges to declare the maximum sentence.
Imagine if we had a social media site called something like Despicable Crimes where we could read the description of the crime as presented to the courts and then vote with our thumbs up or thumbs down icon. The courts could then enter the public opinion into the sentencing recommendations. Visions of the Roman amphitheatre and the Christians versus the lions! We would not have the opportunity to see the action as they did in the amphitheatre - we would have to carefully read, study and discuss the information thoroughly before giving our vote.
Of course, other crimes could have labels as well.
Drug dealing comes close to despicable - maybe reprehensible. Child pornography likely already has the despicable label in most judges’ minds so we don’t need to go there. Cruelty to animals would get a thumb down vote from most of us. Pick any of the numerous crimes reported in the media and try to decide if they are despicable, heinous, contemptible, or just a plain act of stupidity like DUI. Should the courts assess a maximum penalty or give third and fourth chances for reform?
Perhaps it would be asking too much for the miscreants to give due diligence about the crimes they are about to commit - will it be judged a despicable crime or just a routine brush with the legal system? I suppose suggesting a period of mourning before looting a deceased person’s home is too much to expect of these sociopaths. It gives one pause to think where our civilization is heading.
Thank heavens most of us are far from despicable.
Ah well, I guess this idea will be circularly filed along with most of my other great suggestions. Note to the judge: throw the book at them.
