How many times have we read in the newspapers that vastly different sentences were given out by judges and magistrates for what we believe were similar crimes and offences? This includes the very controversial issue of granting bail. Does social class of the offender make a difference? Do race, gender or even political connection factor in? Or, is it really only the evidence in the case that is considered? These are the serious matters that we as a society need to look at in a professional, independent way.
Added to this are the overwhelming issues in the prisons that can be linked to matters of the courts, sentencing, etc. Some of these are the effects of uneven sentencing, long justice delays, overcrowding, trafficking of prohibited items in prisons to even killings of prison officers.
Is there are relationship between how a prisoner reacts if he feels the sentence he received was unfair and subsequent crime and violence inside and now outside the prisons?
One constitutional provision that is yet to be implemented by His Excellency, the President, is the Sentencing Commission that was passed 16 years ago. While it would not solve all of the problems in the judiciary and prisons, it will go a long way it making right many of the wrongs.
Further, while we are not blaming the current President as the law was passed since 2000 and no action was taken then, the public needs his intervention here and now as he is the one in office.
This Sentencing Commission has a major role in both educating the public as well as getting the views and opinions on these critical criminal justice system matters. We should not and cannot take away these rights of citizens so easily. The powers that be should be striving to ensure these fundamental rights are provided at all times to the citizens, otherwise they will be failing the society.
Please, let us do some of the things that we can do to get our country into a better state. The Sentencing Commission is one such institutional strategy.
Stephen Singh