Volunteers are being sought to bring back Court Watch to Williams Lake.
Mayor Walt Cobb says he’s been told by other communities which have court watch, and that when it was in the Lake City, it does make a difference.
“The judges are not from here and they don’t understand the community and what not. Sometimes they go by case law-that’s one of my concerns; they shouldn’t just because somebody got off because of a technicality once before doesn’t mean this person should. I think those things will make a difference when they know somebody is watching the results.”
Cobb says the Minister of Public Safety and Province’s Solicitor General told the City that any movement has to come from the community and that he cannot mess with the judicial system although the City can make recommendations.
“I have been told and the information I have been able to gather, is if people are actually in the gallery and the judges know that these people are there to watch the sentences and they they know they are prolific offenders, the cases come out with a different opinion.”
Cobb says the time is right to make sure we let people know that what’s happening in our community is not acceptable.
He says not only are some of the judges not accountable, but some of the people being charged or convicted as well-which is the biggest problem.
Anyone interested in taking part in Court Watch is asked to the Mayor at City Hall or Dave Dickson with Community Safety.