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News Release - Sept. 17, 1996. RE: CAVEAT's response to Justice Minister's
new long term offender legislation.
For Immediate Release
Burlington, Ontario
LEGISLATION IS A GUTSY MOVE
Nina de Villiers might be alive today if the long term offender legislation
introduced by Allan Rock, Minister of Justice, today had been in place and
effectively administered five years ago.
Although it does not give CAVEAT pleasure to hail, as a victory, the need
to supervise offenders for up to 10 years after their sentence has been
served, Priscilla de Villiers believes this legislation makes real progress
in filling gaps in the justice system. It will give law enforcement agencies
tools to deal with individuals with a propensity for violence and with reoffenders
before they commit the horrific offenses that could put them into the dangerous
offender category.
It is gutsy legislation, long overdue. However, CAVEAT reminds all Canadians
that so many people, particularly children, have been brutally killed and
maimed in the past not because there were no laws, but because the laws
were not administered. The Courts must be willing to apply this legislation
across the country so that high risk offenders do not slip from jurisdiction
to jurisdiction. The people of Canada must demand accountable administration
of all legislation.
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IN ADDITION FOR YOUR INTEREST ...
This law, in essence, if properly administered should be a tool of violence
prevention rather than just a punitive measure.
However, what is essential is its administration. The Auditor General's
previous two reports stated clearly that Correctional Service Canada has
not demonstrated the capability of adequately reintegrating and managing
offenders in the community and has called upon the CSC to get its house
in order. It is imperative that CSC demonstrates its ability to responsibly
administer this law in order for it to be an effective violence prevention
tool.
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