GOV'T TO THROW MORE RESOURCES INTO CRIME FIGHT

Plans New Strategy to Keep Repeat Offenders From Getting Bail

EDMONTON - Premier Ed Stelmach announced a wide-ranging crime
strategy Tuesday that will hire more police and prosecutors, add new
treatment beds for drug and alcohol addictions, and try to deter
judges from granting bail to chronic offenders.

The premier offered an emotionally charged response when asked about
statistics that show Alberta's crime rate dropping in most categories.

"All the statistics didn't mean anything, not at all, to the mother
or father that has lost a young person to violence," Stelmach told reporters.

"One life, two, three -- if we can prevent senseless beatings,
addiction to drugs, (it) makes this program very important."

Alberta's overall crime rate dropped by five per cent from 2005 to
2006, the second-largest drop among provinces, Statistics Canada
reported in July.

The violent crime rate dropped by one per cent, and is still above
the national average.

While the murder rate is among the country's worst, Alberta has the
lowest rates of assault, sexual assault, robbery, break-ins and
overall violent crime in Western Canada.

But Justice Minister Ron Stevens noted there's a difference between
crime that's statistically reported and what is unreported. Sixteen
per cent of Albertans in 2004 told Statistics Canada they were
victims of violent crimes, a sharp rise and the highest rate in Canada.

"(Improving) that perception is very important to attracting people
to our province," said Stelmach, who doesn't want perceptions of
crime-ridden streets to deter newcomers to Alberta.

The anti-crime program will cost Alberta $470 million over three
years, Stelmach said, though that figure depends on approval in the
2008 budget. The plan will allow the province to hire six new
prosecutors, offer 40 new residential addiction treatment beds and 50
youth detox beds, though there were no details about how many new
police officers communities can expect.

"Any additional resources will be appreciated," said Edmonton Deputy
Police Chief David Korol. He applauded the province's overall strategy.

"I'm very pleased around what I've seen, especially around repeat
offenders ...who go out and victimize our community over and over again."

The province is limited in cracking down on chronic criminals, since
the federal government controls sentencing and the Criminal Code.
However, the Stelmach government promised that Crown prosecutors will
present arguments at bail hearings, rather than police officers, with
the expectation that lawyers will be better at persuading judges not
to release potentially dangerous people.

"A catch-and-release system works for fish, but it certainly does not
deter crime," said Stelmach.

Minutes later, Stevens distanced himself from the "catch-and-release" phrase.

"That happens to be a term that has gained some favour as a result of
a lot of media coverage," he said. "That is not how I describe it."

Stevens said later in an interview that he's heard anecdotally that a
pilot project in Wetaskiwin has been successful at persuading judges
against bail releases.

The province was responding to a report issued Tuesday by its Safe
Communities task force, which made 31 recommendations on crime
prevention and enforcement, and warned that crime "causes Albertans
to worry about safety in their homes, neighbourhoods and
communities." The government will enact or partially enact 29 of the
recommendations.

Stelmach has called the crime strategy a top priority before he calls
a provincial election, likely in the spring of 2008.

NDP Leader Brian Mason said the event smacked of grandstanding.

"As we approach an election, the government wants to look like it's
tough on crime, wants to look like it's going to do something. But
what we've seen, time and again is the government failing to come up
to meet the real needs with the resources necessary."

Mason noted that the Conservatives have done little with proposals
from a crystal-meth task force report issued last year. He also
attacked the Tories for addressing alcohol and drug abuse, but not
poverty, as root causes of crime.

Liberal MLA Mo Elsalhy said he likes the government's proposals, but
questions whether it will follow through with a vague funding pledge
that wasn't explained anywhere in the government literature on its strategy.

Putting more police officers on the streets is a necessity, but the
province also needs to put more emphasis on the root causes of crime,
such as poverty and lack of community attachment, said Brian Hurley
of the Criminal Trial Lawyers' Association.

While the task force's report recommends encouraging municipalities
to develop "safe communities" strategies, it is short on details and
does not mention some simple measures Hurley believes would help.
Those include enforcing littering laws, removing graffiti, funding
lunch programs, building recreation centres and keeping inner-city
schools open -- things the government has failed to do, Hurley said.

"It's interesting that they speak the language of safe communities
and yet this government has done everything in its power to destroy
communities," he said. "You don't have to look at punishment or
deterrents or extra police on streets if you take care of some of
those things."

Noel Farion of the Victims of Homicide support group applauded the
task force's proposal to get tougher with repeat criminals through
strict prosecution, enhanced supervision and bail reforms. But he
also wants the province to lobby the federal government to impose
harsher sentences on violent young offenders and to enact legislation
that holds parents accountable when their children commit serious crimes.

Farion's 17-year-old son, Scott, was gunned down in 1994 by a young
offender who was facing charges for other violent crimes.

Another fan of the task force's focus on repeat offenders is Murray
Billett of the Edmonton Police Commission.

"The level of frustration expressed by front-line police officers is
enormous with regard to that revolving door," he said, repeating a
government statistic that 60 per cent of crime is committed by 15 per
cent of criminals.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing the system have more teeth,
with lengthier sentences and a process to keep these men and women
behind bars."

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HIGHLIGHTS

Identify repeat offenders upon arrest, and have Crown prosecutors
rather than police officers argue at their bail hearings, in hopes
they will better convince judges not to grant bail to chronic criminals.

Add 40 residential addiction-treatment beds in the next budget, then
an additional 41 at hospitals and group homes to treat mental-health
and other disorders.

Add 50 detox beds for youth, but not until 2010.

Hire six new Crown prosecutors.

Hire more police officers next year for front-line work and to target
illegal drug operations.

Adopt Safe Neighbourhoods Act to give municipalities more power to
draft anti-crime bylaws (i.e. to shut down drug houses or fine brawlers).

Identify Alberta's crime "hot spots" and launch projects to target
criminals in those areas.

Pass legislation to seize property and money gained from criminal
activity, and give funds to victim compensation and crime prevention programs.

Create a Safe Communities Secretariat to co-ordinate government's strategy.