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Police officers in Mississauga, Brampton and across Ontario are praising the provincial government for its latest call to Ottawa to reform the bail system to keep dangerous criminals off the streets.

The Ontario government is pushing its federal counterpart to “urgently amend the Criminal Code” by introducing changes that will “tighten bail laws to protect public safety and keep repeat offenders and criminals away.” repeat violent street offenders,” said Graham McGregor, Associate Minister for Auto Theft and Bail. reform, said at a press conference Monday morning in Toronto.

Speaking last week of gun violence last summer in Mississauga and BramptonPeel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said among his main concerns are dangerous criminals who are arrested and then quickly released on bail.

Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said he will continue to push for bail reform.

There were 28 arrests in 46 shootings in July and August in Peel, including one death, according to Peel police figures.

“Our officers have made 28 arrests in connection with these incidents and what is alarming is that more than half of these individuals are at large in some form, which includes bail,” he said. said the police chief, adding that this is an issue for police across Ontario and that he will continue to prioritize Peel.

“These violent repeat offenders pose a risk to our community. We have strongly advocated for stricter bail conditions and changes to the bail system because the safety of our residents is non-negotiable.

Six Steps for Bail Reform

In a press release following Monday’s press conference, the province noted that while it has taken significant steps to combat auto theft and reform bail, including investing $29 million dollars earlier this year to appoint new judges and hire new prosecutors and Crown staff to reduce the trial backlog. In criminal cases before the courts, its ability to take additional measures to combat serious crimes and repeat offenders is limited by the Federal Criminal Code.

• reinstate mandatory minimum sentences for serious crimes, which the federal government removed, to ensure appropriate sanctions and justice for victims
• remove the possibility of bail for offenders accused of murder, terrorism, human trafficking, domestic violence, drug trafficking, criminal possession or use of restricted or prohibited firearms and robbery (car thefts and home invasions)
• impose a three-strike rule requiring pretrial detention of repeat offenders so that they are not allowed to return to the streets to commit more crimes before their court appearance
• reinstate restrictions on who can receive suspended sentences for serious crimes so that dangerous criminals receive sentences that match their actions.
• requiring ankle monitors as a condition of bail for serious crimes
• remove credits that can be applied to sentences for time a defendant spends in jail before trial for repeat and violent offenders

The province said these measures fall within federal jurisdiction and are “essential to keeping people and communities in our province safe.”

John Cerasuolo, president of the Ontario Provincial Police Association, said his troops strongly support bail reform.

He described the current situation as a “catch and release system that results in many of the same defendants being released again and reoffending shortly after their arrest.” We believe the safety of our community and our police officers is at risk with this system.

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