Tories to announce tougher sentences: Mr. Kennedy said that currently, too many kids either end up in prison or in the country’s health-care system as they “run away from the pain that has happened in their life.”

So let's have more jail and longer sentences to keep more kids inside?

Mandatory minimum prison works (or may work) for economic crimes like fraud or middle class crimes like impaired driving.  They do not work for crimes coming from irrational impulses.

If we want mandatory anything it should be mandatory treatment orders; and tougher enforcement of mandatory reporting requirements.  That's not seen as very progressive but it could actually work and make  a difference to society.

Story here