End Of Two-For-One Remand Credit Bad Move: Worme

End Of Two-For-One Remand Credit Bad Move: Worme

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 15:27

 

 

A defence lawyer says Aboriginal offenders will be the ones paying the price for Bill C-25.

 

Yesterday, the government announced it would no longer give two-for-one credit to people in remand facilities.

 

Instead, judges will be allowed to give one-and-a-half times credit, but only if the reasoning behind the decision is provided.

 

For years, people awaiting trial were considered to have served twice the length of time they had actually served when their sentence came down.

 

Don Worme, a First Nations lawyer from Saskatoon, says there was a good reason for that policy.

 

Worme says remand time doesn’t have the same types of programs and activities that jails do, which makes it harder time for inmates.

 

He also says many Aboriginal offenders are forced into remand when the crime occurs away from their homes.

 

Worme thinks the government’s decision to end two-for-one remand time is a step in the wrong direction — and believes it is a move motivated by politics, not practicality.

 

He adds correctional facilities stand to become even more overcrowded than usual.