BILL WOULD PUT BRAKES ON ACCELERATED PAROLE

Tory Proposal

The federal government introduced legislation yesterday that would
abolish accelerated parole, which allows financial scam artists and
other non-violent offenders to obtain release on day parole after
serving one-sixth of their sentences.

The bill, first promised last week, is the latest Conservative
government measure to tackle the hot-button issue of white-collar crime.

Early release from prison is a "privilege," not a right, Public Safety
Minister Peter Van Loan told a news conference.

"Canadians are surprised to learn that unless the National Parole
Board has reasonable grounds to believe these offenders will commit a
violent offence--not another offence, but a violent offence, once
released-- they must automatically release those prisoners into the
community," said Mr. Van Loan.

The parole board has "no discretion," he said. In cases of
white-collar crime, for example, where the person does not have a
history of violent offences, the test for early release would easily
be met.

Even if the board feels the person might commit another fraud, drug or
other offence, it must grant parole, according to the law.

The Conservative government has been moving to crack down on
white-collar crime in recent months, which increasingly has become a
high-profile issue.

The latest bill -- entitled the "Protecting Canadians by Ending Early
Release for Criminals Act" -- was introduced a week after the
government put forth another bill that would impose minimum sentences
of two years in prison for fraud over $1-million.

A case in Quebec has drawn particular attention because of intense
lobbying from investors who allegedly lost their savings by entrusting
them to Montreal money manager Earl Jones.

Police allege the financial consultant scammed 150 persons of more
than $50-million. Mr. Jones is accused of running a Ponzi scheme,
which uses money from new clients to pay old ones.