Provincial Protocol Released for High-Risk Offenders
Police now have a tool to help them decide when and whether to notify communities regarding the presence of high-risk offenders in Nova Scotian communities.
A provincial protocol was outlined today by Justice Minister Robbie Harrison, along with David P. McKinnon, president of the Nova Scotia Association of Chiefs of Police and chief of Halifax Regional Police, and Assistant Commissioner Dwight Bishop of RCMP H Division.
The protocol allows police to call together a Community Notification Advisory Committee to assess each case and make non-binding recommendations on the appropriate release of information. The committee can recommend full public notification, targeted notification -- to school officials, for example -- or no notification at all.
The committee's membership includes: laypeople from various geographic regions of the province; a representative of the Barristers' Society; a medical or therapeutic practitioner; and representatives of corrections, victims' services, RCMP and municipal police.
"We now have a process that will provide some consistency across the province," said Mr. Harrison. "This is a difficult decision for police to make. They will now have help in weighing the safety needs of the community and the privacy rights of the offender."
"The Halifax Regional Police and the Nova Scotia Association of Chiefs of Police extend their appreciation to the Nova Scotia government," said Chief McKinnon. "The province assembled representatives from several departments to work together to develop a comprehensive and focused process to provide a response to the public's need to be informed."
"The Royal Canadian Mounted Police applauds the initiative of the provincial government in bringing this program forward because ultimately, by working in partnership, we will keep all our communities safe," said Assistant Commissioner Bishop. "This initiative will go a long way in assisting the RCMP and its communities to become safer places while at the same time balancing the right of the victim to disclosure and the rights of the offender to privacy."
The RCMP will act as the co-ordinating police agency. Information will flow to the RCMP either from corrections or from a police agency regarding the possible presence of a high-risk offender. The RCMP will identify a lead police agency -- usually depending on the proposed destination of the offender -- and that police agency can then mobilize the committee.
A public education program is built into the protocol. Should a full public notification be recommended and provided, a police agency will then conduct a public education program. The police will be required to provide information and programs that focus on preventing victimization.
The protocol follows similar models used in Newfoundland and Manitoba. It is the result of a group of justice officials working over several months. The protocol was developed with the help of municipal police representatives, the RCMP, the Public Prosecution Service, Corrections Canada, Department of National Defence, and officials of the Department of Justice.