Legislation Introduced Thursday To Target Prolific Violent Offenders With Warrants

Prolific violent offenders with warrants will no longer be able to collect social benefits and live in social housing under new legislation proposed by the SaskParty government.

In reaction to events in James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon the government introduced legislation to allow Warrant Intelligence Team to work with other government agencies to suspend benefits to and collect information on prolific violent offenders with active warrants.

"It is important to ensure that the children and families of violent offenders aren't unfairly impacted by their criminal behaviour," Minister of Social Services Gene Makowsky said in a statement.

"Our ministry will help this new team improve community safety without creating any undue hardship for vulnerable Saskatchewan people,” the Minister said in the statement.

As part of the collecting information on prolific violent offenders with warrants the Warrant Intelligence team will have the ability to gain information to allow for the individuals’ apprehension. Previously privacy legislation often prevented such information to be provided to police.

The Act includes safeguards to ensure that the Warrant Intelligence Team can only request limited information about specific prolific violent offenders, and that the information obtained must be used for the purpose of assisting with apprehension efforts.\

At the present time BC and Manitoba have similar legislation.