Our Crime Panelists examines the need for consecutive parole ineligibilities, calls for bail reform and if emojis can prove intent to commit a crime.

How necessary are consecutive parole ineligibilities?

Two Red Deer men have been sentenced to serve three concurrent life sentences without parole for 25-years after being found guilty of three-counts of first-degree murder.

Jason Klaus and Joshua Frank were convicted following the hired murders of Klaus’ parents and sister.

Justice Eric Macklin could have ordered their parole ineligibilities to be served consecutively but instead opted for the minimum punishment. In the decision Justice Macklin argued consecutive parole ineligibilities discourages rehabilitation and serves little deterrent for future crimes.

Why are nearly 60% of adult inmates awaiting trial in Canadian jails?

Nearly sixty percent of adult inmates in jails across Canada are incarcerated before they have been found guilty of a crime. It’s a statistic some look to when defending the need for bail reform in Canada.

A recent ruling from an Ontario judge hopes to make it easier for legally innocent people to be released on bail as they await their trials. In a case involving a man facing allegations of criminal harassment and threatening to publish intimate images without consent,

Ontario Superior Court Justice Di Luca allowed the man to be released without a surety leaving him responsible to abide by his bail conditions.

Some say the nature of the crimes should require a stricter response, while others say it signifies a change in the approach to bail by the courts. Last year the Supreme Court of Canada decision, R v. Antic, criticized judges who make bail difficult to obtain, and recommended Crowns seek the least restrictive options for release.

Can emoji’s prove intent to commit a crime?

Howcould emoji’s be interpreted by Canada’s criminal code?

It’s a topic some lawyers are grappling with as more cases involve digital evidence obtained on social media. Certain emojis, such as eggplants or peaches, are believed among youth to have a sexual connotation, could unwanted use of these emoji amount to sexual harassment?

Do emojis such as bombs, knifes or guns, equate to uttering threats? Courts in jurisdictions around the world are dealing with the new technology.

Recently a New Zealand judge sentenced a man to 8 months in jail on a stalking charge when he wrote the Facebook message "you’re going to ** get it ✈️ " to an ex-partner. In 2015 A Virginia teen was charged with computer harassment and threatening school staff for the message "Killing �� meet me in the library Tuesday �� �� ��"

Our Crime Panel is made up of: Ed O'Neill, defence lawyer, Steven Penney, professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Alberta and Monetta Bailey, assistant professor of sociology at Ambrose University.