One of the architects of the law that governs CanadaB次元官网网址檚 prison system says itB次元官网网址檚 understandable people want revenge on killer and serial rapist Paul Bernardo, but thatB次元官网网址檚 not what the prison system is designed for.

Mary Campbell also says it is regrettable the Correctional Service of Canada has not been more transparent in how it handled the matter B次元官网网址� which the law allows it to be.

Campbell, a lawyer who retired from her role as director-general of the corrections and criminal justice directorate in the Public Safety Department in 2013, said that without question BernardoB次元官网网址檚 crimes were horrific.

Broadly speaking, the corrections system has a mandate to rehabilitate offenders.

Politicians from all parties and levels of government have decried BernardoB次元官网网址檚 transfer from a maximum-security penitentiary to a medium-security prison in Quebec.

B次元官网网址 of the transfer was confirmed last week by the lawyer for the families of two of his victims, Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy, who want him sent back.

Both teenage girls were kidnapped, sexually assaulted and murdered by Bernardo in the early 1990s. He was also convicted of manslaughter in the death of Tammy Homolka, who died after being drugged and sexually assaulted. Tammy was the 15-year-old sister of BernardoB次元官网网址檚 then-wife Karla Homolka.

Karla Homolka was released in 2005 after completing a 12-year sentence for her role in the crimes committed against French and Mahaffy.

Bernardo admitted to sexually assaulting 14 other women. He has been declared a dangerous offender and is serving a life sentence.

Bernardo has spent 30 years under maximum security, which Campbell said is a long time for any offender.

And while she understands why people want to see him kept there, she said the criteria for transferring an inmate to another penitentiary B次元官网网址渋s not based on revenge.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e, as a country, gave up torture quite a while ago, B次元官网网址� she said in an interview Tuesday (June 6). B次元官网网址淎nd weB次元官网网址檙e pretty critical of other countries that engage in torture.B次元官网网址�

After the news broke, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he thinks Bernardo should be locked up for B次元官网网址�23 hours a day,B次元官网网址� while Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has called on Prime Minister Justin TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 government to enact changes that would force those who are convicted of multiple murders to serve their entire sentence in maximum security.

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The correctional service is reviewing the decision to transfer Bernardo. Under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, inmates are given security classifications based on factors including escape risk, which inform where they serve their sentences.

In the case of Bernardo, who is now in his late 50s, the correctional service says a move to a medium-security prison poses no risk to public safety.

The reason behind his transfer, however, is a mystery, with the federal correctional service saying it is B次元官网网址渞estricted by lawB次元官网网址� in what it can divulge.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said Canadians are owed an explanation as to why Bernardo was transferred.

Tim Danson, the lawyer representing the French and Mahaffy families, said he was not given the information because of BernardoB次元官网网址檚 privacy rights.

Campbell said the law spells out that the commissioner of the countryB次元官网网址檚 prison system has the power to disclose to victims a summary of the reasons for the transfer of a particular offender, in cases where it is determined their interest outweighs any invasion of the offenderB次元官网网址檚 privacy.

She said the commissioner can also choose to release information under the federal privacy law in cases where they determine the publicB次元官网网址檚 right to know overrides an inmateB次元官网网址檚 privacy.

B次元官网网址淲hen (the Correctional Service of Canada) says they canB次元官网网址檛 release details because of the law, thatB次元官网网址檚 not entirely accurate,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭here are exceptions.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚t is unfortunate that CSC maybe hasnB次元官网网址檛 been a little bit more transparent, explaining things.B次元官网网址�

She added that there are more than 20,000 other people serving a sentence in Canadian prisons and jails, and the rules have been designed to apply broadly.

Stephanie Taylor, The Canadian Press

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