I can't help but notice the sentence rates over the last few years of convicted sexual predators.
Here are just a few:
2009 - A 44 year old man was sentenced in Prince George to 15 months in jail on one count each of sexual interference of a person under 16 years old and to sexual touching of a person under 14 and to a consecutive term of nine months in jail on an additional count of sexual interference of a person under 16.
2011 - A Prince George man was sentenced to two years on four sex-related offences of persons under 14.
2013 - A 50 year old man was sentenced for 18 months for three counts of interference of children under 16.
2013 - A 26 year old man was sentenced to 90 days in jail, three years probation for two counts of sexually interfering with young people and banned from being in the presence of a child for 10 years.
And the latest tragedies:
A 66-year-old Prince George man was sentenced six years in prison for repeatedly forcing sex on an 11-year-old girl, getting her pregnant in the process.
A B.C. Supreme Court Justice found a Prince George man guilty of sexually interfering with a four-year-old girl.
A 35-year-old Prince George man was sentenced to 22 months in jail and three years probation for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old babysitter.
A 42-year-old man was found guilty of incest involving his teenage daughter beginning when she was in Grade 8.
Watch for the sentence that will be handed down in the next couple of weeks.
These are just some examples.
Believe me, when I search this area, there are more, many, many more miscarriages of justice. These victims are children! These sentences are too lenient for the trauma set upon these young people.
In case the justice system isn't aware, the victims are left with carrying the burden of what has happened to them for the rest of their lives.
I often wonder what the statistics are for survivors of sexual abuse? How many suffer from dependency to drugs or alcohol? How many can actually function without fear?
The emotional, mental and physical pain they must be carrying with them knowing full well those that have violated them will be free within months of receiving their sentences?
It's time the laws make some drastic changes to its system because clearly what is currently in place isn't working enough to be a deterrent to those who knowingly cross the line.
We must do more to protect our children and youth from predators and set a precedence that Prince George is no place to violate the young and vulnerable.
My question to our MLAs and local MPs: what are you going to do about this? I am just one voice of many, I am paying you for your service. Now, what are you going to do about this?
Leane Dalgleish
Prince George
