Manitoba announces new plans for people granted bail, high-risk offenders
The Manitoba government is investing in programs to increase the supports and supervision of high-risk offenders and those who have been granted bail in the province.
Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced the programs on Monday, saying they will improve public safety by offering interventions for those on probation supervision and those awaiting trial.
Beginning this month, the province is allocating more resources to the Criminal Organization High-Risk Offender Unit, which is a probation program that targets offenders identified as posing a high-risk to public safety. The new resources include a full-time psychologist, and additional probation officers and community corrections workers.
“These programs will see that those who are granted bail are given appropriate community supports and supervision required when they are released from custody pending court hearings to lower the risk posed to the community,” said Goertzen.
“The Manitoba government has been a leading voice in the need for bail reform to stop accused repeat violent offenders from too easily getting bail. A commitment from the federal government to make bail harder to obtain for repeat violent offenders and strong provincial programs to monitor those on bail will make our streets safer.”
With the new investments, the program will be able to provide supervision services for up to 100 additional offenders, doubling its current capacity.
Manitoba will also be launching a pilot program later this spring for adult bail management. The program will start in Winnipeg with 25 men and 25 women.
Through this program, individuals with pending serious charges will be given increased supervision and support once they are granted bail with the goal of addressing public safety concerns and improving compliance of release order conditions.
The province’s third investment involves and upcoming request for proposals for an electronic monitoring program aimed at crime prevention and reducing burdens on police forces.
Manitoba notes that many Canadian jurisdictions use secure and confidential electric monitoring of judicially reviewed offenders, and that the province will be seeking a technology platform to help the Department of Justice in supervising offenders.
“As we continue to push for legislated bail reform, it’s important all criminal justice system stakeholders do their part to help protect the community. I support the additional justice resources and tools announced today,” said Chief Danny Smyth of the Winnipeg Police Service.
“These initiatives will make it tougher for violent and chronic offenders to commit crimes and further engage in violent behaviour while on judicial interim release.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian former Olympic snowboarder wanted in Ontario double homicide: DOJ
A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who is suspected of being the leader of a transnational drug trafficking group that operated in four countries is wanted for allegedly orchestrating the murder of an 'innocent' couple in Ontario in 2023, authorities say.
Ontario school board trustees under fire for $100K religious art purchase on Italy trip
Trustees with an Ontario school board are responding to criticism over a $45,000 trip to Italy, where they purchased more than $100,000 worth of religious statues.
A photographer snorkeled for hours to take this picture
Shane Gross, a Canadian marine conservation photojournalist, has won the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Tobacco giants would pay out $32.5 billion to provinces, smokers in proposed deal
Three tobacco giants are proposing to pay close to $25 billion to provinces and territories and more than $4 billion to some 100,000 Quebec smokers and their loved ones as part of a corporate restructuring process triggered by a long-running legal battle.
More Trudeau cabinet ministers not running for re-election, sources say shuffle expected soon
Federal cabinet ministers Filomena Tassi, Carla Qualtrough and Dan Vandal announced Thursday they will not run for re-election. Senior government sources tell CTV News at least one other, Marie-Claude Bibeau, doesn't plan to run again, setting the stage for Justin Trudeau to shuffle his cabinet in the coming weeks.
Robert Pickton's handwritten book seized after his death in hopes of uncovering new evidence
A handwritten book was seized from B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton's prison cell following his death earlier this year, raising hopes of uncovering new evidence in a series of unprosecuted murders.
Former members of One Direction say they're 'completely devastated' by Liam Payne's death
The former members of English boy band One Direction reacted publicly to the sudden death of their bandmate, Liam Payne, for the first time on Thursday, saying in a joint statement that they're 'completely devastated.'
Israel says it has killed top Hamas leader Yayha Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces in Gaza killed top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of last year's attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said Thursday. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel's most wanted man.
Indian government employee charged in foiled murder-for-hire plot in New York City
The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges Thursday against an Indian government employee in connection with a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.