Clinton News-Record, 1984-04-04, Page 3•
1i
aY
1 4, J--1'AGE 3
�i.
The Easter Seals telethon was a big success in Clinton last weekend
as $2,700 was raised from 100 contributers. Pictured (left to right)
is Mary Sutter and Cheryl Flynn taking some of the individual
Offenders' Act
Youn New
donations of $100 or more. A total of $48,000 was raised in the area.
(Rod Hilts photo)
makes youth more responsible -
BY ANNE NAREJKO
Theword delinquency is no longer in
existence. It has been replaced with offence,
according to Joan Belford, co -chairperson of
the Ministry of Community and Social
Servies' area co-ordinating committee for
implementation of the new Young
Offender's Act.
On March 28 the 73rd Annual Meeting of
the Family and Children's Services of Huron
County, washeld with Belford as the guest
The Young Offender's Act replaced the
Juvenile Delinquent . Act on April 1. The
Offender's Act has been in the works for
:approximately 10 years but there are still a
few minor details that need to be worked
out. Overall, the new act makes young
people accountable for their actions. •
"The key factor in the Young Offender's
Act is the uniform age of 18," stated Belford..
•
Presently the provinces' vary on the
inaximuni age of young offenders. British
Columbia and Newfoundland have those 16
in the upper age bracket while Manitoba and
Quebec call those 17 and under young
offenders. Ontario and the remaining
provinces include offenders who are 15 -
years -old andunder.
"The Young Offenders' Act also
emphasises the responsibilty which the
• offender has," according to Belford. "The
phrase .that's going around now. is, if you're
old enough to do the crime, you're old
enough to do the time."
Belford feels that this attitude contrasts
with. the former Juvenile Delinquent Act's
view of having the offender's best interest in
mind. The -courts are no longer taking the
"kindly parent" role, instead they have
taken the position of "due process.
The courts . will not be handing but
sentences that are for an .undetermined
time, but are required to sentence the
offender for a fixed period
The hearings will no longer be in camera
as the public will be allowed into the youth
courts. However, Belford explained that the
judge can remove people from the court if
he chooses to do so. . them, therefore well have to keep a check
Even though the courts will be open to the on what goes out to where arid when," King
public, the 'offender's privacy is taken into said,•
consideration by not allowing • the • According to Belford, if the records are
publication of court proceedings. • not destroyed after the qualifying period,
The Young Offenders' Act also differs those responsible will be given a penalty.
from the former Juvenile Delinquent Act by IMPLICATIONS
not taking the view that the offender needs The major implications for the Children's
assistance every step of the way. The new , Services are . the age change, , wardship
Act states that the offenders must know status andlega_,-proceedures.
their legal rights in each stage of the case. Under the 75 -year-old JuvenileDeliquent
"The adult court aspecfia-ar_$ similarto-the _-_ Act, a_child under. he.age-of..seven ..could not .
new Act but there are spe ial considerations hair w . - a ; ' al offence. The new
special needs due/4A,ii dates h o ', rite has raised. the age to
for »�
Belford commented. 12 as well as classifying a youth as a person
The 'rights and responsibilities of the
parents to the children are also heavily
emphasized. If the parents are not in court,
they must have a good reason or they will be
held in contempt of court.
BLUEWATER CENTRE
The former Bluewater Centre for the
developmentally handieapped closed last
November and will .be converted into a
regional detention facility for the young
offenders. Thej entre is to be ready to take
the offenders by April 1, 1985. .
The regional detention. centre is to be one
of two located in Ontario.. It is to .house 177
young offenders between the ages of 12 and
.17 as the age for criminal responsibility has
been moved from seven -years -old to 12.
Even though . the actual structure of the
building will not change, a fence will
encompass the entire property and the
windows will have bars laced on them. The
young offenders place ' • e detention
centre will have comiinitte i minor crimes
compared to inmates in an adult detention
centre. -• .:; -
RECORDS
The records on the young offenders are to
be destroyed after a qualifying period to
ensure the offenders of a fresh start.
According to Goderich Police Chief Pat
King, as the Act reads now, the police are
responsible for destroying all records.
"When the time comes to destroy the
records, it is up to the police. We can't tell
other people to do it if we send the records to
wCLZNNTON - ie future oithe;1
1I auditor um 0443, inae
st g r
The former Clinton councillor was acted
to act as chairman of the comMittee at thein
first meeting, held on March 28.
The coninnittee is madW up of
representatives from various organizations
m the community. Clinton's new recreation
director Kevin Duguay is one of the
merlib rs. and he explained, "The
committee will.endeav9r to provide Clinton
with a pot pourri of cultural activities,
ineluding art and museum displays,
theatrical performances,_ song, music and
dance,"
Councillor Ross` Carter, committee
organizer, said that the group hopes to stage
one major event a week, in order to make
the town hall auditorium a viable operation.
He told town council at their April 2
meeting that hehopes the comnniittee. l ►ill
become a permanent orgaNzation.•''i e
stressed, "-I never Want to let the town hail
get to the pointwhere it has in the last
years."
In the future, he can see the steering
committee operating as a "small, dedicated
group of people."
Councillor Jim Hunter asked if the
recreation board could take over the
steering committee work in.future years.
Councillor ----Carter suggested: -that --the- -
present recreation committee would not be
equipped to take on this responsiblity. He
explained that the recreation committee's
main interest and expertise is in sporting
activities, not cultural events.
Councillor Hunter, a member of the the
rec committee, agreed but suggested that in
the future the two groups would join forces
and act as a recreation and culture board.
In the meantime the steering committee
will determine how the town hall auditorium
can be best used.
Clerk CamProctor suggested that the
• atiditarinm itbald become a popular meeting
under the age of 18.
The terms for the wardship status are
absolute, according to Belford.
"After the offender does the specified
time, no one can interfere with their life.
What the judges will probably do is place the
offenders in custody followed by a pro on
period," she explained
The legal proceedures not only specify
compelled attendance at court by parents,
but the Act is also strict on the admissibility
of evidence. There will be no opinion allowed
in court, only evidence.
There will also be extensive mandatory
reviews done on the offenders finding out
where they are, how they are progressing
and where they should go from there.
Although the Young Offenders' Act seems
to be more rigid than the former act, it does
make all young people accountable for their
acts. .,
Weather
1984, 1983,
March 4 _ 5 3 3
27 6 —5 4 -1."
28 .7 -2 1 -9
29 4 0 2 •10
30 6 -1. 8 4
31
April
1
7 -4 10 -4
11 .2 6 0 1
2 Rain 7 mm
Hill ANO Hill
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Call
RUM* because Qf Clint00 entr 194
aLWOn County. ;o
suggested that this could ata 't by
Cli ►_ton hosting, the 1985 �e
Recreation. gone .anneal conferrence.
Approximately 100 people attend tt - event.
Council will ask the town recreation
aommitteeto make appl r etlun
19985 event., •s
'I steering
on 4011.148:41: 0,4
Anyone interestel
commiittee or the the
hallis invitedtarattend.
the
ucky 13for shoppers
CLINTON - Friday the 13th may be con-
sidered unlucky in some quarters, but not
for shoppers in Clinton.
Next Friday, the Clinton Business Im-
provement Area (CBIA) is hosting a 13 -
hour, Friday -the -13th, Lucky -for -You Sale,
and member businesses are putting
together some great savings for shoppers.
-- Friday marks one of thethreeFriday the-
.13th's in 1984, the greatest. number that can
ever occurin.any one year. The others are in
January and Any. On this Friday, Clinton
stores will be open for 13 hours, fropi 9 a.m.
to 10 p.m.
In other business, the CBIA is considering
allowing Clinton businessmen, whose places
of business are located outside the strict
geographical limits of town set down by pro-
vincial B]'A standar-ds, to become associate
members of the BTA,
"Some of our most active business pro,
rooters are outside the core area, and
because of their location, do not reap the
benefits of belonging to the BIM says Toby
Rainey, CBI& Co -Ordinator. "This should
be remedied in,some way."
For the first tune, the CBIA is making
plans to enter a float in the Klompen.-F_
parade May 19, Jim Fitzgerald has been
namedchairmaii,of the float eomniit eeThut
is keepi ng his plansiander wraps' of secrecy.
Next December, the CBIA is planning to
re -activate the Santa Claus Parade ila.Clin-
ton, a popular event which was dropped
several years ago in favor of the Christmas
Skating Party for children. Local clubs and
organizations will be invited to support the
€dear.
NEED TO KNOW
SOMETHING ABOUT
YOUR NEW
COMMUNITY?
erCOm� Q ®IL
Phone 524-2544
Our hostess will bring gifts and greetings
along with helpful community information.
141111DL
lE MONTHEy
A NSTETT
JEWELLERS
8 Albert Street Clinton
IN
A $1000 SHOPPING
SPREE IN OUR
STORE!
During Jewellery Month, you are eligible
to win $1000, $500 or $250. worth of the
jewellery. of your choice in our fantastic
- EWELLERY TRIVIA _CONTEST -
Plus other prizes! No purchase is neces-
sary, but to be eligible you -must correctly
answer the skill testing questions.
•
VISIT OUR .STORE FOR DETAILS
COMING NEXT WEEK!
CLINTON'S FIRST
One day Only —
FRIDAY APRIL 13
Most Clinton stores will be
OPEN 13 HOURS
9AM- 10 PM
THERE WILL BE LOTS OF LUCKY BUYS
FOR YOU APRIL 13 IN CLINTON AT OUR
FRIDAY 13th SALE! COMPLETE DETAILS
IN NEXT WEEKS PAPER
CLINTON NESS
IMPROVEMENT AREA
7i�