Changes to the Offence Act have been passed into law to give B.C.'s courts more flexibility to manage offenders convicted under provincial statutes and help modernize and reform the province's justice system.

These changes expand sentencing options by allowing the courts to impose probation orders that are better tailored to reflect the offences and offenders' circumstances. Probation orders may include a wide range of conditions, such as community work service, requirements not to attend a specific address or to stay away from certain locations, or other conditions that a judge finds appropriate.

Flexible sentencing will help manage the behaviour of offenders in communities and enhance the rehabilitative aspects of sentencing.

The changes will come into force in June.

Quote:

Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond -

"This act gives the courts more flexibility to ensure offenders' sentences best address the nature of the crime they have committed. This is just one of the innovative steps government is taking to make the justice system more effective and responsive for British Columbians."

Quick Facts:

Examples of types of offences that will be better addressed through improved enforcement:

• For serious Motor Vehicle Act offences, such as driving without due care, a combination of fine and probation or jail and probation creates a sentence that was not previously available to the court.

• For repeat trespass offences, offenders could be placed on probation, with court-ordered conditions to stay away from a specific area, and community work service could be imposed rather than a fine.

• For street disorder offences, charges could be laid under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act for being drunk in a public place, rather than under the Criminal Code. Offenders could be placed under probation orders with conditions, such as paying for damages, writing an apology letter and performing community work service. If individuals fail to comply, they could be charged with a breach of the probation order.

Learn More:

More information on the criminal justice system can be found here: www.justicebc.ca

Read the news release on the B.C. government's justice system reform initiative here: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2012/02/further-action-on-justice-reform-launched.html

Join the conversation about justice reform in B.C.: www.bcjusticereform.ca

Contact:

Dave Townsend
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 387-4962