‘Break the cycle of offending:’ province targeting repeat, violent offenders

A total of $25 million will be invested over three years to support a number of Crown Counsel, B.C. Corrections officers and officials, and probation officers to coordinate the program.

The teams will help identify cases for investigation and intervention to help prosecutors make decisions moving forward.

Consultations are underway with Indigenous groups to make sure it’s done in a culturally appropriate way.

Farnworth said this is all part of their continuing efforts to provide safer communities.

“We have been advocating for changes to the bail system, which doesn’t sufficiently address repeat violent offending. On Friday, I was pleased to announce the Federal Government has committed to amending the criminal code. The goal of these changes is to keep repeat, violent offenders off the streets, and to help end the cycle of their offences.”

The new initiative will operate in every community in B.C. and is expected to begin in April.

The teams will also provide increased assistance once an offender is released, by helping them find appropriate community programs, such as mental health services, to help them break the cycle of reoffending.

The announcement comes two days after a Nanaimo business owner was seriously injured after being shot attempting to recover stolen items

Farnworth said the situation is “very concerning”, and initiatives like this should help.

He also said citizens should never try and take justice into their own hands.

“I don’t want to use the term vigilantism, that’s the wrong term to use, but when there’s an issue such as what we’ve seen in Nanaimo, which is still under investigation, the police are the professionals who will do the job.”

Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog released a statement about the shooting Tuesday morning, calling for more help from the federal and provincial governments.

“Our City is not able to fix the underlying issues that have led to the problems we are facing and the kind of situation that unfolded here on Sunday,” Krog said. “When government is no longer able to protect people and their property, we are in a dangerous place.”

Krog has long campaigned senior government to create involuntary care for those who are unable to help themselves in a cycle of mental health and addictions, which make up a considerable section of repeat offenders.

Farnworth was asked about Krog’s statement during Tuesday’s press conference and said recent initiatives put forth by the province will have a “significant benefit” for all B.C. communities.

“We invested $230 million over the next three years to hire 274 RCMP officers to fill provincial vacancies across the province. We made record investments in terms of mental health and addiction support treatment and housing programs to deal with the homelessness issues that we are facing in this province.”

The RVOII is one of the components of the Provinces Safer Communities Action Plan announced by the province in Nov. 2022.

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by Jordan Davidson

‘Break the cycle of offending:’ province targeting repeat, violent offenders

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