Whereas Williams Lake has repeatedly called for stronger sentencing for prolific and repeat offenders being released into the community; And whereas the judiciary has consistently failed to adequately ensure community safety when releasing prolific and repeat offenders on conditions: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM petition the provincial and federal governments to enact legislative and regulatory changes to the criminal justice system to apply stricter penalties and ensure adequate incarceration of prolific criminals, including consistent use of electronic monitoring when released on conditions.
Attorney General and Minister responsible for Housing While the judiciary is independent and is responsible for sentencing, the Province is aware that sentencing decisions can impact communities, as well as members of the public. To ensure that our courts have the tools and resources they need to address crime, our officials work closely with our provincial and federal government counterparts to monitor the impacts of court decisions and to advocate for legislative and policy changes. The BC Prosecution Service BCPS is aware of community concerns regarding the release of repeat offenders and is addressing the issue within the framework of current law and policy. BCPS policies are, in part, guided by the Supreme Court of Canadas strong and clear statements that the justice system must respond in a more principled and restrained manner to alleged conduct, especially by Indigenous accused and offenders. This means fewer people are being held in custody before trial and fewer people are being imprisoned after conviction. Ultimately, the criminal justice system must balance the rights of society, including victims and communities, and the legal and constitutional rights of accused persons. With respect to electronic supervision, it is most suitable for high-risk individuals who require an intensive level of supervision due to a substantial concern they will commit a serious, violent, andor sexually motivated offence. The decision to impose electronic supervision rests solely with the court, as BC Corrections does not have authority to impose electronic supervision on clients. Electronic supervision cannot stop a person who is determined to commit an offence; however, it builds on other tools such as riskneeds assessments, programming, home visits and public notifications to support clients and promote public safety.