NDP nixes zero-tolerance probation policy

Manitoba's attorney general will not endorse a zero-tolerance policy for high-risk criminals who breach their probation.

Andrew Swan said Tuesday that after meeting with police and justice officials, all parties agree that tightening the rules about enforcing breaches for criminals will not work.

'The soft on crime approach isn't working.' —Opposition leader Hugh McFadyen

"They believe that zero-tolerance policies … was unworkable and wouldn't actually improve the administration of justice in Manitoba," Swan said.

The NDP government has been taking heat in the legislature over the last week due to an ongoing high-profile court case involving a teen boy who killed a city taxi driver with a stolen SUV while out on probation.

Court heard at a sentencing hearing last week that the teen repeatedly breached the conditions of his probation in the days leading up to the crash, but police were never notified.

The teen was considered a high risk to reoffend at the time he crashed the massive vehicle into Antonio Lanzellotti's cab in the early morning of March 29, 2008.

The SUV was travelling at 139 km/h at the time of the Portage Avenue crash, nearly three times the legal speed limit.

A probation officer called to testify at the hearing said not reporting the teen's breaches was due to an internal policy that stipulates a "pattern of non-compliance" must be established prior to probation officers calling police to report the breaches.

'Soft on crime'

The Progressive Conservative Opposition and other critics have been lambasting the government, saying the policy is a reflection of the NDP being soft on crime. Tory leader Hugh McFadyen has been calling for a zero-tolerance policy to crack down on criminals in the community who thumb their noses at court orders.

"The soft on crime approach isn't working, and regardless of what they say today, the [justice] system, after 11 years of NDP government, is broken," Tory leader Hugh McFadyen said on Tuesday.

"We are concerned that the rhetoric that we get from the government doesn't match up with action."

Swan said the government will review policies governing probation officers and officials will continue to discuss potential changes to Manitoba's probation system.