Repeat offenders are staying behind bars longer, thanks in part to an 18-month long initiative targeting known violent offenders. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

program expansion

Repeat violent offender program piloted in Nanaimo showing positive results

Dec 19, 2025 | 4:13 PM

NANAIMO — A program designed to deal with the endless cycle of conduct from repeat violent offenders, which is being piloted in a dozen cities, is having an impact.

Set up in Nanaimo in 2023, the Repeat Violent Offending Intervention Initiative (ReVOII) works to identify and track known repeat offenders, and implement harsher release conditions and thresholds on any future offences.

Police interactions with those identified by the program are down 50 per cent in the program’s 18-month life to date, with 75 per cent of known offenders remaining in custody ahead of court appearances compared to just 56 per cent before ReVOII’s implementation.

“The impact is far-reaching for people’s safety in their neighbourhoods and downtown cores, with violent offenders being better monitored and kept off our streets for longer,” Nina Krieger, minister of public safety and solicitor general, said in a statement.

Victoria, Vancouver, Surrey, New Westminster, Abbotsford, Kamloops, Kelowna, Cranbrook, Prince George, Williams Lake and Terrace are also under the ReVOII umbrella.

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Data from the province shows 48 per cent of individuals under the program spent more time in custody ahead of their court dates, compared to just 32 per cent of repeat offenders previously.

Around 500 high-risk, repeat offenders are monitored through the program province-wide.

Estimates in January 2024 showed nearly three dozen offenders in Nanaimo were being watched.

The province said those connected through the ReVOII program stay charge-free for longer and help reduce the risk of crime in the community.

Those who opt to continue offending are being jailed longer and dealt with more swiftly, according to the government.

Due to ReVOII’s success, Nanaimo, Kelowna and Nelson will pilot a similar initiative focused on property crime and public disorder.

The Chronic Property and Public Disorder Intervention Initiative (C-POII) will target prolific offenders committing theft, vandalism and other public disorder crimes.

“Nanaimo has seen the impact of chronic property crime and street disorder,” George Anderson, MLA for Nanaimo-Lantzville said in a statement. “This pilot is a new tool to address these issues, while connecting people to supports that can help break the cycle of offending.”

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