A former public safety official says the Conservative government's new bill to delay when repeat violent offenders at the federal level may be eligible for statutory release from prison will "make the system actually much worse and will not improve public safety."
The government quietly introduced C-56, the Statutory Release Reform Act, on Friday in House of Commons.
Repeat violent offenders, under the amended laws, would only be eligible for statutory release six months before the end of their sentence, from current legislation that allows them to be released two-thirds of the way into their sentence.
The government bill amends both the Corrections Act and the Conditional Release Act. The bill also applies to repeat Canadians who commit offences and are detained in foreign states under the International Transfer of Offenders Act.
Repeat violent offenders belong to a group that actually needs the most support in reintegration, according to Mary Campbell, former director general of corrections policy at Public Safety Canada.
"They are the more difficult group and so what are we doing? We're giving them a shorter period of reintegration. We're giving them less help through this bill and that makes no sense whatsoever," she said.
"You might want to do more specialized preparation for their release or different kind of supervision, but to give them less support and less time under supervision just seems contrary to the best public safety."
Victims' rights over criminals
Currently, most offenders are eligible for full parole after serving one-third of their sentence.
Inmates are eligible for statutory release after completing two-thirds of their sentence if they haven't already been released on parole, according to the Parole Board of Canada. Offenders are released from prison but still bound by certain conditions and limitations.
'Why don't you do something more targeted and meaningful for the people who truly are at-risk?'- Mary Campbell, former director general at Public Safety Canada
Offenders serving life or indeterminate sentences aren't eligible for statutory release. Offenders are supervised by Corrections Canada and are returned to prison if officers believe they present a risk to the public. Statutory release is different from day parole and full parole.
"The government has determined that this is the wrong approach when it comes to repeat violent offenders," according to a statement released by Public Safety on Friday. The proposed measures "reflect the government of Canada's ongoing commitment to keep our streets and communities safe while ensuring that the rights of victims are placed over those of criminals."
Campbell disagrees.
"We know from research that it's better to put people out under conditions and supervision than to release them cold. So that's kind of the reason for the release," said Campbell. She said it's not an automatic release, but a presumptive one.
"You can be kept in custody until the end of your sentence, but that's the worst way to release someone."
1.5% recommit violent crimes
Data from Public Safety Canada shows that between 2012 and 2013, 7.1 per cent of statutory releases ended with a nonviolent crime and only 1.5 per cent ended with a violent crime. That second figure has gone down from 2.5 per cent in 2008-2009.
Campbell said the new bill targets that 1.5 per cent of people who recommit violent crimes. She added that data compiled on them shows they are predominantly young, male criminals who commit robberies.
"If you know that much about your target group, why are you changing the whole law for a whole lot of people that don't meet that profile, that don't have those needs? Why don't you do something more targeted and meaningful for the people who truly are at-risk?"
A spokesman for Public Safety Canada said the department would not be able to respond to CBC News' query by Friday's deadline.
The NDP's public safety critics were also not available to comment on the bill.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper first announced the government would be introducing new legislation in mid-February. It follows through on a commitment by the Conservatives made in the 2013 throne speech.
Given the limited sitting days before an expected fall federal election, the legislation may be hard-pressed to pass through all stages in the House of Commons and Senate without unanimous support from all parties.
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