HOW SUCCESSFUL ARE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES?
Although the conditional sentencing option is relatively new, there have already been cases where its effectiveness has been questioned. Not only are several of these sentences currently being appealed, the consequences of some have also proven serious, even fatal. Consider the following cases: – Robert Jones, 48, was given a 15-month conditional sentence after he was convicted of stealing $250,000 in a faked robbery. The judge prohibited Jones from leaving his home except for work, medical purposes or community service work. What the judge did not know and did not look into was that Jones was a dual Canadian-U.S. citizen. On the same day that Jones was sentenced, a probation officer gave him written permission to return to his home in Michigan. Only later did the probation office realize that they had no way of enforcing the sentence once Jones crossed the border. This case exemplifies how judges often pay little attention to all the circumstances when passing a sentence. – Angus Forb
