"UNSOLVED, WITH JOHN DOUGLAS"
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interactive analytical tools and the legendary
profiling skills of ex-FBI Special Agent John Douglas.
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"The Green River Killings"
Still in a crime-solving mood - here is
a real challenge
Improved efficiency and accuracy await police officers on
both sides of the border!
[Previously published news releases]
OTTAWA, Thursday, April 1, 1999...For the first time,
law enforcement officers on both sides of the border
will have direct access to US and Canadian criminal
data such as, criminal history records, stolen vehicles,
property and persons related information.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the U.S.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have agreed to
develop a direct link between the RCMP’s Canadian
Police Information Center (CPIC) and the FBI’s National
Crime Information Center (NCIC).
“This new communications link will expedite the exchange
of information between the two countries’ law enforcement
agencies, which was identified as a top priority at the
May 21, 1998 cross-border crime forum convened by the
Solicitor General of Canada and the U.S. Attorney
General ” stated Assistant Commissioner John L’Abbé.
Mr. Desarno of the FBI added “The signing of this
agreement will enable our respective countries to
provide more reliable and efficient telecommunications
in which to share criminal justice data.”.
Prior to this new system, the RCMP and the FBI had to
go through the US Department of Justice and the National
Central Bureau of Interpol located in Ottawa and Washington
D.C. when exchanging law enforcement data.
TORONTO (CP) - Saying Ottawa has failed to keep the
public safe by ignoring calls for a national sex offender
registry, Ontario intends to introduce Canada’s first
provincial register.
"A national sex offender registry would be the most
effective means of preventing unnecessary harm against
the vulnerable in society," Ernie Eves, Ontario’s
deputy minister, told a news conference Friday.
"The federal government has chosen to ignore the
recommendation, therefore Ontario will act alone.
In short, we will do the right thing."
A law to create the registry will be introduced after
the Ontario legislature resumes April 22 and is
expected to be passed before the election, likely in
June.
The legislation will be called Christopher’s Law, in
memory of Christopher Stephenson. The 11-year-old boy
was sexually assaulted and murdered in 1988 by Joseph
Fredericks, a convicted pedophile out on parole.
Sex offenders will be required to contact police when
they move to a new community and register their address.
Failure to do so will result in a one-year jail term
and \$25,000 fine.
However, the list of names and addresses will only be
available to police, not the public.
Names will be made public only if police believe the
offender poses a high risk to a community.
Eves says privacy laws prevent Ontario from posting
the registry on police Web sites as happens in some
jurisdictions in the United States.
Lawrence MacAulay, the federal solicitor general,
says Canada doesn’t need a federal sex offender
registry. All criminals are registered on a police
database called the Canadian Police Information Centre.
With consent, any member of the public can request a
criminal record check.
"We do have a registry - CPIC," MacAulay said in Ottawa.
"We have addressed the problem."
Bill Sparks, executive director of the John Howard
Society of Ontario which promotes effective responses
to crime, says the type of list Ontario proposes can
backfire.
Sex offenders can be sent underground and into other
communities where they are freer to re-offend.
"The real interest to us is what works," he said.
"We know from the research that there are effective
programs for sex offenders. What I would like to see
is government putting resources into effective treatment."
Sparks adds that the Ontario registry may be too
punitive since it will name sex offenders for life.
Eves said he expected but rejects that kind of criticism.
"In my opinion, the rights of the public, the rights of
young people, the rights of victims and the safety of
our law-abiding citizens outweigh any impact this
legislation may have on pedophiles, rapists and other
sex offenders."
Jim Stephenson said while he applauds the Ontario
government for introducing a registry, he isn’t certain
it would have saved his son Christopher’s life.
"I would like to think it would have aided the
investigation. I would like really to believe it
would have saved his life - practically, I don’t know,
I really don’t know."
