By Adam Berls

repeat offending

‘Jail not bail’: Poilievre targets repeat offenders as part of campaign

Feb 12, 2024 | 2:17 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — As part of a CKPG News exclusive interview, the federal leader of the opposition Pierre Poilievre, said he was taking aim at crime and repeat offenders in the run-up to 2025 federal election, with a simple catchphrase. Jail not bail. However, when it comes to dealing with repeat offenders, the RCMP superintendent in Prince George says that they are having success.

When it comes to how our criminal justice system deals with repeat offenders, Poilievre puts the blame squarely on the federal government.

“Bill C-75, allows repeat offenders to be out on bail within hours of arrest. Then they promptly re-offend.” – Pierre Poilievre, Federal Leader of the Opposition

The government’s aim with Bill C-75 is to “modernize and clarify interim release provisions to simplify the forms of release that may be imposed on an accused” and a change was made in the Criminal Code to reflect that, a judge “shall give primary consideration to the release of the accused at the earliest reasonable opportunity and on the least onerous conditions that are appropriate”, meaning that every case will be different. In Prince George, two officers are specifically dedicated to dealing with repeat offenders.

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“We’ve got 12 or 14 individuals identified on that list, and we’ve had really good success with getting charges approved and having them remanded in custody pending trial for those specific individuals based on their history. So far, our early results are that program is working really well.” – Superintendent Shaun Wright, Prince George RCMP

In January, Bill C-48 was passed, which forces the accused, in certain cases, to demonstrate why they should be released on bail, rather than requiring prosecutors to prove why they should remain in custody.

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X: @AdamBerls

Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com