POLS 3300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Boxing Day Shooting, Public Knowledge, Populism

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLS 3300
• Professor: Sheree Derferd

Document Summary

Now that we have reached the final unit of the course, we have gained a great deal of knowledge about the canadian criminal justice system the actors, the process, the pressing issues and controversies. As discussed in the reading by roberts et al (2003), we know that in general, the public is oriented towards more punitive policy. Indeed, more punitive policies like mandatory minimums, three-strikes laws and sex offender registries often have widespread public support. Governments have resisted the punitive mood in the public. Canadians (53 percent - see adams 2014) favour the reinstatement of the death penalty, governments have resisted acting on the desires of the public. Similarly, governments have avoided creating public sex offender registries, even though there has been strong support from members of the public (see. Governments have reflected the punitive mood in the public. Following high profile events and public outcry for more punitive criminal justice policy, governments have enacted reactive policy.