HALIFAX, August 11, 2008 - The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety along with the Honourable Len Goucher, Minister of Immigration for Nova Scotia, on behalf of the Honourable Cecil Clarke, Attorney General an nd Minister of Justice for Nova Scotia, today announced an agreement for the use of Nova Scotia's electronic monitoring systems in a pilot program for federal offenders. Minister Day announced earlier today in Toronto that the Government of Cana da is launching a program to electronically monitor federal offenders.
Nova Scotia will provide support and advice based on their experience using this technology. While the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) will use Nova Scotia's electronic monitoring systems, CSC will be responsible for monitoring the offenders throughout the duration of the pilot project.
"This initiative will better protect communities and provide an additional tool f or the Correctional Service of Canada and police to prevent crime. Our Government is determined to ensure that those offenders who are released by the National Parole Board into the community are more effectively monitored", said Minister Day. "We have listened to police and victims groups who have been requesting such a tool for years. Compelling offenders to abide by the conditions of their release is a key aspect of our reform of Canada's prison system."
The one-yea r pilot, which will begin in September 2008, will include the monitoring of up to 30 offenders in the Ontario Region. Based on the results of the pilot project, the Government will examine options for extending this program across Canada.
The system will function by having an offender wear an ankle bracelet with a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver that reports its position to a monitoring network. CSC will be alerted whenever an offender violates conditions such as curfews, resi dency or location restrictions. Following an alert, appropriate action will be taken and the police may be called as required.
It is anticipated that electronic monitoring will make our communities safer in the following three ways:
- Quickly detecting any violations of certain types of release conditions;
- Compelling offenders to abide by the terms of their release; and,
- Increasing safety for parole officers conducting late nig ht checks of offenders under imposed curfews.
"In 2006, Nova Scotia became the first province in the country to use GPS technology to monitor offenders," said Justice Minister and Attorney General Cecil Clar ke. "We are pleased to share the knowledge and expertise we have gained over the past two years with the Government of Canada."
"I am very pleased with the government's announcement. Enhanced supervision through elec tronic monitoring will provide victims and the public greater protection," added Steve Sullivan, Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime.
This initiative complements the Tackling Violent Crime Act which came into force earli er this year. This legislation provides for better monitoring of offenders who have reached the end of their sentences, and have been released into the community, but still require police supervision.
Information:
Mélisa Leclerc
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of Public Safety
613-991-2863
