B次元官网网址

Skip to content

Teams of cops, prosecutors, to target repeat violent offenders in B.C.: Farnworth

A $25 million three-year program starts in April

B.C. will spend $25 million over three years to create teams of police, prosecutors, and probation officers to attempt to crack down on repeat violent offenders.

B次元官网网址淥ur government believes everyone deserves to feel safe in their communities,B次元官网网址 said Mike Farnworth, B.C. Solicitor General and Minister for Public Safety, during a Tuesday morning announcement of the new program at the North Langley Community Police Office.

Farnworth said the program, dubbed the Repeat Violent Offending Intervention Initiative, will create B次元官网网址渃oordinated response teams,B次元官网网址 where cops, prosecutors, and probation officers will work together to monitor cases from investigation, through the laying of criminal charges, to bail, trial, and sentencing, and on beyond to community supervision after release.

The new program will operate in every region of the province and will see local or regional teams in each area.

Farnworth said the teams are already being put together and the program will begin in April, although not every region or team will be able to start immediately.

READ ALSO:

Chief Supt. John Brewer of the RCMP said that the program will run at the community level to identify cases and interventions locally.

TheyB次元官网网址檒l be looking most intently at high-risk repeat offenders, Brewer said.

The new project is based on recommendations from the .

The $25 million in funding will go towards 21 Crown counsel and 21 other professional BC Prosecution Service staffers to establish and support the dedicated prosecution teams, four full-time BC Corrections officials to develop, co-ordinate, and evaluate the program, nine correctional supervisors, nine probation officers working on enhanced release planning, and a dozen more probation officers working in community corrections.

The other side of action on repeat violent offenders is now expected from the federal government, Farnworth noted.

B次元官网网址淔or months, we have been advocating for changes to the bail system, which doesnB次元官网网址檛 adequately address repeat violent offending,B次元官网网址 he said.

As of Friday, the federal government has pledged to amend the Criminal Code to make it more difficult for some offenders, particularly violent repeat offenders, to be released on bail awaiting trial.


Have a story tip? Email: matthew.claxton@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on and follow us on .
32129893_web1_230314mChiefSuptJohnBrewer
RCMP Chief Supt. John Brewer spoke about the police role in tackling repeat violent offenders on March 14 in Langley. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)
32129893_web1_copy_230314-LAT-MC-FarnworthMike
B.C. Solicitor General Mike Farnworth announced the $25 million program to target repeat violent offenders in Langley on Tuesday, March 14. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)


Matthew Claxton

About the Author: Matthew Claxton

Raised in Langley, as a journalist today I focus on local politics, crime and homelessness.
Read more



(or

B次元官网网址

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }