Another Approach to Reducing Crime

The Harper government is about to toughen Canada's criminal laws to make juveniles as young as 13 more likely to be prosecuted as adults. It's a red meat issue for Harper's red meat constituents.

In Britain, there's another proposal to reduce crime - make the criminal meet the victim.

The Telegraph reports on a study led by a Cambridge academic that found, "violent criminals are far less likely to re-offend if they are forced to meet their victims and face up to the consequences of their actions. The study is also said to suggest that such meetings reduce victims’ desire for violent revenge and help their recovery from distress.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has weighed in on Britain's crime and punishment debate, criticizing the government for having "an obsession" with imprisonment. Dr. Rowan Williams admits incarceration is necessary for crimes of violence and abuse or offenders who present a continuing threat to society but he argues for "greater emphasis on community-based penalties and restorative justice."

Britain is currently facing a serious overcrowding problem in its prisons.