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Page 4, Terrace Bay-Schreiber News, Wednesday, April 18, 1984 . a P = , P The Terrace Bay-Schreiber News is published every Wednesday by: "4 Laurentian Publishing Co. Ltd., Box 579, Terrace Bay, Ontario. POT 2W0. ORtL2LON Telephone: (807) 825-3747. EDITOR AND MANAGER..... eet eT "cs Sagat ene Karen E. Park ' EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ....................0....00005, Lynne Badger Things have ADVERTISING SALES.................................. Sharon Mark f PRODUCTION MANAGER................ i eee ee. Mary Melo : DEADLINE: Friday NOON ; j © |! : . Subscription rates: $12.00 per annum (local); $18.00, changed from q ait per annum (out-of-town). Second Class Mail A. Pees Registration No. 0867. a 70 years ago! As of April 2nd, 1984, a major reform was forwarded by the Government ~ of Canada. It is called the Young Offenders Act, and replaces a law that was é over seventy years old. nc O % At the time (way back then) it was probably a great reform. However things have changed ... times have changed ... and young people have changed. The old Act considered the young person involved in conflict with the law, as being sick and not responsible for their acts. The old law gave the state the full power to take charge of the young people for indefinite 4A = = my periods and this tended to lead to incarceration. In some cases, 16 and 17 § hrist Lives year olds were not considered as being youths. They were categorized as adults and denied all benefits that were reserved for young people. The new law will now apply to all young people from ages 12 to 17 and in provinces where 16 and 17 year olds are now in the adult system, this will bring them into the youth system over the next year. Young offenders will be viewed differently now under the new law. The new law recognizes that young people are not adults but they are not children either. The courts will now recognize the level of responsibility of youngsters and will determine immaturity and dependency on adults; and subject to that, the courts will hold them responsible for their acts. Under 'the old law in some instances, the offender was considered to be a danger to himself or to the rest of us. The new system will stress diversion, and official sentences will be able to include the victim for the first time, providing for reimbursement, restitution and compensation. Fines, instead of going to the state can by court, be ordered to be paid to the victim. The court can also order young people into community services. But remember that the courts may come up against an occasional youngster who commits a very serious crime, or a teenager who is a mature, It is difficult for us to grasp the events that took place that first Easter. The women coming to the tomb were greeted by the news, "He is risen."' Then they met Jesus who told them to tell his disciplines that he would see them in Galilee. "There they will see me," Jesus said. The basic Easter conviction is simply this: Christ lives. That was the bottom line for the early disciples. It was the ground of all their hopes and the mainspring of all the amazing activity which followed after Easter. God raising Jesus from the dead, empowered the disciples to go out to the ends _of the world with the message of God's redeeming love. hardened criminal. In this case, the court can send the offender to adult From that first day of the week to this day, followers of Jesus acknowled- court where full responsibility prevails and sentences can be made much ge that Jesus lives. He has gone to prepare a place for us where he meets us tougher. seit ; as we will meet him. He is also present this day in our hearts and he speaks Along with more responsibility, the new law adds more rights. The new to us in this life, for He is lord of the living as well as the dead. He is with Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is meant for the young person those who struggle this day for truth, justice, and peace. His love triumphs also. A youngster accused, will have the right to counsel, the right to -- over everything that would prevent God's purpose from being fulfilled. receive a clear sentence, and the right to appeal an adverse judgement. Their trials will now be open to the public but the media will have to protect the youth's identity. Plus, out of fairness, a young person's record will be forgiven and destroyed if he or she earns it by subsequent good behaviour. There is a story told of a pastor in a small rural church who became gg Basically, what the new Young Offenders Act provides, is this: discouraged by the lack of performance on the part of his parishioners. He Kiss bette t way to rehabilitate youngsters. , : announced one Sunday morning that since the church was dead, funeral , : : : services would be held that evening. As the news got around, considerable Fes ages method that hopefully, will reduce the rate of crime bythe young curiosity developed and many people turned out to see what the funeral of s 3 2 . the church would be like. That evening, as they entered the sanctuary, they : ioe insure that the young people have the same rights as all saw an open casket in front with the usual flowers around it. After the ; ; By ft seping rte youngsters at home, in the community, and by making funeral service was conducted with some modifications, the pastor invited them pay through community services and victim repayments, it is a step in the congregation to come forward to view the remains. As the parishioners the right direction of creating a more responsible citizen. - passed by the casket they were startled to see themselves, because the : Since April 2, 1984, there is a definition for a young offender. It's a step pastor had placed a large mirror in the bottom of the casket. 4 in the right direction. By contrast on that first Easter, the stone had been rolled away from the tomb. Those seeking a dead friend met instead, a living lord. Their fear turned to joy as they realized that Jesus is living so they too could live. This Easter let each of us celebrate the victory of Jesus over sin and death. Let 7 us do this together as members of His body, the church, so that the world 4 will know we live also because of Jesus. ; | This Wack': Cauckle | a No woman makes a fool out of a man ... she merely directs the performance. A Get Well Wish for you Arthur Dear Arthur, Dear Arthur, A publisher's nightmare We feel for you Arthur The Radio Noon Show So from all of us here, We are in a plight. White space is INDEED! We know of your pain. And Basic Black too, . And along the North Shore, We don't have your copy Your wit and your whimsy A speedy recovery Is just not the same ""Godspeed"' - "Quick Recovery" And this space remains white. Dear Arthur - WE NEED! We wish for you in vain. With no presence of you. GET THOSE FEET ON THE FLOOR! Karen, Sharon and Lynne