How the sex offender registry in Canada works — and its limitations
Global News
The federal government has introduced new legislation that could change who gets listed on the National Sex Offender Registry. What are the proposed changes?
The federal government is looking to strengthen its response to sexual crimes in Canada, rolling out legislation that could change who gets listed on the National Sex Offender Registry.
The registry is a way for police to stay up to date with information on convicted sex offenders across the country, and it’s intended as a tool to prevent and help investigate crimes of a sexual nature.
Canada’s Department of Justice on Wednesday laid out a series of updates for the sex offender registry in a new bill introduced before the Senate. Justice Minister David Lametti said the changes included in Bill S-12 will make the criminal justice system more responsive.
“Sexual offences are amongst the most heinous and degrading forms of violence. They have a devastating impact on survivors, who are disproportionately women and girls,” he said during a news conference in Ottawa Wednesday.
“Police must have the tools they need to investigate and bring sexual offenders to justice. Those tools also keep our communities safer by preventing further crimes.”
The proposed changes are in response to a Supreme Court of Canada decision last October, which struck down parts of the National Sex Offender Registry. In that ruling, the top court said mandatory registration of all sex offenders with more than one conviction goes too far.
But how does it actually work, and why aren’t Canadians able to see who is on it?
The sex offender registry was established in 2004 but the former Conservative government made changes in 2011 that removed prosecutorial and judicial discretion on when it should be used.
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