March 18, 2010
Government Takes Action to Strengthen Young Offenders Legislation and National Sex Offender Registry
Ottawa (March 18, 2010)— As part of the government’s commitment to crack down on crime and ensure the safety and security of our communities, the government has recently announced two important pieces of legislation to strengthen Canada’s young offenders system and the National Sex Offender Registry. The proposed measures will go a long way towards combating crime and protecting law-abiding citizens.
“The steps our government is taking with respect to strengthening Canada’s young offenders legislation and the National Sex Offender Registry are measures that I know are welcomed by the constituents of Souris-Moose Mountain,” said Komarnicki. “The safety of our communities is a top priority for our government and these two pieces of legislation will help increase the effectiveness of our justice system.”
The proposed amendments to the young offenders legislation would:
• make protection of society the primary
goal;
• simplify the rules to keep violent and repeat young
offenders off the streets while awaiting trial, when necessary
to protect society;
• require the courts to consider adult sentences for youth
convicted of the most serious crimes – murder, attempted
murder, manslaughter and aggravated assault;
• add deterrence and denunciation to the principles of
sentencing which would allow courts to impose sanctions to discourage
a particular offender from committing further offences;
• strengthen sentencing provisions and remove barriers
to custody, where appropriate, for violent and repeat young
offenders; and
• require the courts to consider publishing the name of
a violent young offender when necessary for the protection of
society.
“Many Canadians are of the view that violent and repeat young offenders need to be held accountable and that our youth criminal justice system needs to be strengthened to ensure that justice is served,” said Komarnicki.
The proposed amendments to strengthen the National Sex Offender Registry and the National DNA Data Bank would ensure that:
• convicted sex offenders are automatically
included in the Registry;
• convicted sex offenders are automatically included in
the Data Bank;
• police can use the Registry proactively to prevent sexual
offences, not just to investigate crimes after the fact;
• authorities can include in the Registry those returning
to Canada after being convicted of sex offences outside the
country;
• the Registry includes information on offenders’
vehicles, including license plates; and
• the Registry includes information on how offenders committed
their crimes (method of operation), to help police investigate
subsequent cases.
“For far too long there has been a call to strengthen the National Sex Offender Registry and National DNA Data Bank to better protect our children and communities from sexual predators,” said Komarnicki. “These amendments will not only help to ensure the safety of our children but will provide law enforcement officials with the tools they need to crack down on repeat offenders and investigate crimes.”
For more information on these two initiatives
to combat crime and protect law-abiding Canadians, please visit:
www.justice.gc.ca and www.publicsafety.gc.ca.
