Government reforms laws surrounding offenders deemed not criminally responsible
Posted November 25, 2013 6:16 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Harper government has reintroduced its bill to reform laws that find offenders not criminally responsible due to mental disorders.
It creates a new high-risk designation that means someone could stay in custody indefinitely if they are deemed a risk to the community.
Justice Minister Peter MacKay said the bill will also try and help victims.
“The victims and their families often do not know when a NCR accused has been released or where they live in proximity to that victim. The changes proposed in the Not Criminally Responsible reformat are intended to address these concerns,” MacKay said.
The bill contains a new high-risk offender status that could keep someone in custody, with treatment, indefinitely.
MacKay said this would happen in only the most egregious of cases.
“This will ensure those NCR accused who meet the higher risk threshold are no longer a threat to their victims or the Canadian community,” said MacKay.
Even if those found not criminally responsible are kept behind bars, the government says they will continue to receive treatment until they are fit to return to the community.
The original legislation died on the order paper when the Prime Minister prorogued Parliament at the end of the summer.
