Ontario invests $112 million to strengthen bail system and tackle violent crime

Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford announced on Thursday a substantial investment of $112 million towards improving the province’s bail system to ensure high-risk and repeat violent offenders comply with their bail conditions. The funds will be allocated towards setting up violent crime bail teams, providing prosecutors with resources for complex bail hearings, new technology, and boosting the Ontario Provincial Police’s (OPP) Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (ROPE) Squad.

According to Premier Ford, bail reform is urgently needed to prevent innocent people from losing their lives to dangerous offenders. The measures are intended to ensure the most dangerous criminals are locked up behind bars, preventing them from causing havoc on the streets.

To this end, the province will provide $24 million over the next three years to establish dedicated bail compliance teams within police services. Additionally, the OPP’s ROPE Squad will receive $48 million to create a Bail Compliance Unit that will focus on apprehending high-risk provincial offenders who break their bail conditions or are at large.

Moreover, $26 million will be allocated towards the creation of Intensive Serious Violent Crime Bail teams within the courts system to assist prosecutors in preparing for complex bail hearings. The province will also establish a new Ontario-wide bail monitoring system through the Bail Compliance Dashboard.

Solicitor General Michae Kerzner emphasized that public safety is personal because people are afraid to walk the streets, take public transportation, or go out at night. The aim of these measures is to prevent repeat violent offenders from being released back into communities.

Earlier this week, the province announced more changes aimed at addressing the growing wave of crime, including scrapping tuition fees and post-secondary requirements for basic constables.