Conservatives to pitch 3-strikes crime bill

The federal Conservative government is planning to table a bill in the coming weeks that will make it easier to label criminals as dangerous offenders after a third serious conviction.

Justice Minister Vic Toews took pains Wednesday to differentiate the proposed plan from California's "three strikes" law, where in some instances, petty theft convictions have helped trigger life sentences.

He said the legislation would apply to violent offenders and sex offenders.

"We feel that once a person has been convicted three times, a presumption should apply that the individual is dangerous because a court has found that individual to be so."

Currently, the Crown must initiate a court hearing and argue before a judge why a "dangerous offender" tag is appropriate.

Despite the changes, the judge would still ultimately decide whether the designation is warranted. Offenders could begin applying for parole after seven years.

The Tories came into office promising several changes to the Criminal Code, including mandatory minimum sentences for offences involving firearms and tougher penalties for street racing.

Toews has also questioned the widespread use of preliminary hearings and raised the possibility of modifying the Youth Criminal Justice Act so that the courts would have jurisdiction over offenders as young as 10 instead of social welfare agencies.