iN NUMBERS: Most British Columbians don’t have confidence in the criminal justice system

The term “catch and release” gets thrown around a lot when people talk about their frustration with the justice system in B.C. But results from an Angus Reid poll show that British Columbians want to change more than bail laws and push for a harsher sentences. 

Here are the numbers:

• 69: Per cent of British Columbians have no confidence in criminal courts in the province.
• 92: Per cent of British Columbians think the justice system is too lenient and plays a role in the increase in crime.
• 70: Per cent of British Columbians think those convicted of sex crimes should have to serve their whole sentence in jail, rather than a conditional sentence served in the community.
• 84: Per cent of British Columbians think making bail harder to get for repeat offenders would reduce crime in their community. 
• 85: Per cent of people in British Columbia think there should be harsher sentences for organized retail theft or systematic shoplifting. 
• 96: Per cent of British Columbians think it should be harder for violent offenders to get bail.
• 73: Per cent of British Columbians think people accused of major crimes should have to argue for the right to be released while on trial.
• 41: Per cent of people in B.C. think someone’s background shouldn’t play any role in their sentencing including things like economic circumstance or history of being abused. 
• 11: Per cent of people in B.C. think someone’s background should play a major role in their sentencing.