The Ontario government, for example, is providing $900,000 over the next three years to the Owen Sound Police Services to help prevent repeat and violent offenders from committing serious crimes while out on bail. The funding is part of the province’s plan to help protect communities, support victims of crime and keep people safe.
Through the Bail Compliance and Warrant Apprehension (BCWA) Grant program, the government is investing $24 million across the province to help establish dedicated bail compliance and/or warrant apprehension teams to monitor high-risk individuals. This funding is being delivered over three years and will also support new technology for a province-wide bail compliance monitoring system.
“This funding will help provide the resources our police services require to monitor and enforce bail compliance keeping our community safer from repeat offenders who are out on bail,” said Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Rick Byers.
“It is unacceptable that repeat and violent offenders are committing serious crimes while out on bail,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “By giving police the tools they need to track and arrest offenders who violate their bail conditions, our government is helping to ensure Ontario is one of the safest jurisdictions in Canada.”
The BCWA Grant is part of a $112 million investment to strengthen the province’s bail system and ensure repeat and violent offenders comply with their bail and court-ordered conditions. Other initiatives include:
- The creation of a Bail Compliance Unit within the OPP’s Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement Squad
- The establishment of Intensive Serious Violent Crime Bail Teams within the court system
- A new province-wide bail compliance dashboard to help monitor high-risk offenders with the most accurate data possible
“This funding will assist the Owen Sound Police Service to proactively monitor the compliance of court imposed conditions related to individuals released into the community by the courts,” said Owen Sound Police Chief Craig Ambrose.
The BCWA Grant program will support 17 municipal police services, four First Nations police services and 12 Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) services.
In November 2023, the Ontario government introduced the Enhancing Access to Justice Act, 2023 that will, if passed, make it easier for more victims of crime to sue an offender for emotional distress.
