Last week was a time when we stopped to consider the possibility of “Restorative Justice” – a time when we consider some different ways to do justice in our community. It is a time when the church and church people might consider getting involved to do more… Perhaps people might even begin helping to facilitate justice issues.I wrote about this issue of Restorative Justice on November 12, 2008. I spoke about it on the weekend as well.
The angry humanity in me rose up over the weekend as I read more of the present situations with two Offenders in Canada. One is Justin Mortin and the other is some one identified as “S.M.”.
Justin Morton is from Brampton. In 2003 he led Eric Levack into a wooded area near Brampton and strangled him with his belt.
“S.M.” stabbed Michael Oatway on a bus in Ottawa – after Michael wouldn’t give him his Ipod.
Justin Morton, 14 years old at the time of the murder, reportedly killed Eric Levack, also 14 years old, because Justin wasn’t getting along at home… and if he killed someone he would get free room and board in a Juvenile Youth facility… and because he disliked Eric who tagged behind him all the time. He had selected three other students to possibly kill but chose Eric out of the bunch.
“S.M.” was 17 when he and his friends surrounded Michael on the bus. Michael was 22. “S.M.” already had an Ipod but also wanted the one that Michael was using. The two had never met before. It could have been that “S.M.” had a sale for the stolen Ipod – which could go for $20. Imagine he was stabbed and died because of a possible $20.
Justin Morton was transferred to a Federal Prison and will be eligible for release in about two years... because he received a 7 year life sentence as a young offender.
“S.M.”’s case is not over yet. But you can almost be sure that he will receive a fairly light sentence when it is all over. From what one of his “friends” stated he counted on it when he committed the crime.
I believe in Restorative Justice. Yet as I state that I am also struggling with the rawness of these two crimes and the horror of what it means to the community and the families of the murder victims.
Restorative Justice screams to the society that something different should take place in the way that we deal with these criminals and victims of crime. We NEED to be involved as community to protect the victims and also assist the offender.
But how do you do that when you read about the blatant Justin Morton that has been diagnosed with homicidal fantasies?
What frame of reference do you use to deal with a 17 year kid that kills for $20… or the simple fact that he wanted the other persons Ipod when he already had one of his own. After he made it known that he wanted the Ipod he couldn’t back down in front of his friends.
How do you possibly offer help to these kinds of people? How can you help their families? Could something have been done to identify the problem and offer assistance? Maybe a teacher could have talked with the Morton Family when he or she saw the problem rising in class?
So many questions and so little answers are there.
One fact that is real… Morton and “S.M.” will be out of prison soon. The system is set up that way. The Levack family is demanding that Morton be in prison for a long, long time… and have swore that they will do all to make sure that happens.
But he will get out soon. He is actually eligible for Day Parole this next month… and could be out again in less than two years.
What can we do as a community?
One hope is that with the necessary programming in prison it may be discovered what his real problems are and if he fails to comply he will remain inside for longer than two years. He is headed for some real help – theoretically. But then if they are too busy and the case load is too heavy for the Program Officers – he may not get help… and he may be out soon. All of us are watching this one with great interest.
Restorative Justice week has left me with some turmoil that needs to be resolved… and I am not sure how it will happen.
Awareness seems to be the answer to the Restorative Justice issues. If parents of the victims were aware they might have monitored the situation better – like – who is this Justin Morton that Eric talks about?
Secondly – maybe the students that buy the stolen Ipods from fellow classmates need to be aware that someone was hurt deeply when they lost their Christmas gift to a small band of youthful thugs.
People that buy cheap stuff are likely getting stolen property. When did it happen that because something is cheap and stolen – that it is okay to take advantage of it… just because we do not know where it came from????
Restorative Justice starts long before the Crime Scene… or the criminal act. If it was in place way back at the start it would not be a shock at a later date… when some one like me states the theory and then wonders how I will every deal with Justin Morton or “S.M.” when they live next door to me later on.
~ Murray Lincoln ~
Sources:http://fighttostopviolence.blogspot.com/2008/11/justin-morton-20-transferred-to-federal.html
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/536736
Michael Oatway Murder
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html?id=a9fc35b6-8715-4ad9-bc71-718b70146d3a
Ipod Loyalist
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081115.wipod15/BNStory/National/home
No comments:
Post a Comment