Manitoba prosecutors to have more oversight of release, bail opportunities for repeat offenders, premier says
Province announces 5-point plan that includes $3M for police to track down people violating bail
The provincial government is hoping to better tackle the root causes of crime and address public safety risks associated with repeat offenders out on bail through a series of new commitments with police, prosecutors and other agencies.
Premier Wab Kinew and Justice Minister Matt Wiebe announced on Thursday a new five-point plan they say will help address community safety issues associated with repeat offenders.
"We've heard time and time again that we need to take action on bail reform," Kinew said.
"The concern is if somebody does get picked up off the street, often the next day, maybe even later the same day, those same people cause problems in our communities, are back at it again, and that causes Manitobans to lose confidence in their government's ability to keep them safe."
Serious offenders out on bail are more likely to reoffend when they don't have the right supports in place, Kinew said.
The new policies will give Crown attorneys more tools for considering the potential impact on victims and the community if someone accused of a crime is let out on bail while awaiting judgment, a government news release said, particularly in cases of intimate partner violence or chronic offenders.
Another part of the plan will send $3 million to the Winnipeg Police Service in 2024-25 to hire a dozen officers devoted to tracking down offenders who violate bail conditions and may pose a public safety risk.
Manitoba is also spending $514,000 to bolster the ability of law enforcement agencies within the province and beyond to share data and intelligence at the provincial and federal levels, the news release says.
The fourth prong of the plan is to use $500,000 to create a community monitoring and supervision program focused on providing better mental health and substance use supports for chronic offenders.
The province will also hold a "public safety summit" this spring with community members, Winnipeg police and representatives from other agencies to identify their different priorities related to the root causes of certain crimes.
Mayor, police laud plan
Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said he hears frustrations from police and the public when stories emerge about repeat offenders committing crimes while out on bail, which is why he's pleased with the announcement.
Bobby Baker, Prairie region director with the National Police Federation, said the NDP announcement goes beyond public safety and is a step toward addressing root causes of potentially criminal behaviour, suggesting other provincial and federal leaders should "follow Manitoba's lead."
"Bail needs to be effective, accountable, appropriate and actively monitored for the public to feel safe and have confidence in it," he said.
WATCH | Police federation praises bail plan:
Dave Dalal, acting deputy chief of Winnipeg police uniform operations, said he was glad advocacy around bail reforms last year led to federal Bill C-48 being implemented earlier this year.
The Thursday announcement fits perfectly within the philosophy of that bill, he said.
'Big improvement'
Chris Gamby, communications director for the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association of Manitoba, said Bill C-48 also includes a "reverse onus" provision that could result in more instances where the onus is on the accused to put forward a compelling case for release on bail. Previously, the onus has been on Crown prosecutors to show why someone should be detained, he said.
Gamby said that's why the $500,000 for enhanced community monitoring and supervision programming is promising and could help fill a gap in the system.
The former Progressive Conservative government cut 20 per cent of its funding to the John Howard Society and Elizabeth Fry Society in 2017.
That resulted in fewer spaces in their bail-support and reintegration programs for people who may need supervision or addictions or mental health supports to ensure they stay out of jail, Gamby said.
"If we have public funding for this, that's probably a big improvement, and I'm hoping that it'll be available to more individuals who come before the court," he said.
"The rest of it, it's hard to tell. A lot of it seems to be lip service to this issue.... The federal government, really, they're the ones that are in control of the law."
The Manitoba Association of Crown Attorneys declined to comment.
'This has taken a toll'
This week, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association said about 70 per cent of people in provincial or territorial jails were awaiting bail or trial as of 2021-22.
A provincial government spokesperson said the Winnipeg Remand Centre currently has 254 inmates, "which is well below capacity."
Justice Minister Wiebe said in 2022 alone, one in five people charged with violent offences were out on bail.
"This has taken a toll," Wiebe said. "We're here to send a clear message that our government is taking action to make our streets safer, unlike the previous government, who chose again and again to point fingers and pass the jurisdictional buck over to the federal government."
Last fall, Kinew pledged to address bail reform if elected.
Progressive Conservative MLA Wayne Balcaen (Brandon West), a former police chief in Brandon, suggested that pledge was "erroneous" at the time and still is because bail reform is ultimately a federal issue.
"This is not bail reform, this is bail monitoring," he told reporters.
"The only bail reform that can happen is at the federal level, making sure that laws are in place that prolific offenders, repeat offenders, violent offenders, are kept in jail and not given bail."
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With files from Ian Froese and the Canadian Press