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Habitual Offender Provision
In 1947 what we know now as the Dangerous Offender label, was the Habitual Offender provision. Based on the similar British legislation enacted in 1904 that targeted "persistent dangerous criminals engaged in the more serious forms of crime". -
Criminal Sexual Psychopath Act
In 1948 further provisions were made from the following Habitual Offender Provision 1947. The provisons made were created so indeterminate sentences could be imposed on criminal sexual psychopaths, which was changed from the Habitual Offender to Criminal Sexual Psychopaths. -
Dangerous Sexual Offenders
In 1960 the wording of crimnal sexual psychopaths was changed to Dangerous Sexual Offenders. This legislation could be imposed on people who were guilty of attempted or actual assault, i.e. rape, burglery, beastiality or gross indecency. A person guilty of one of these said crimes could be deemed a sexual offender after one conviction, their personality, history and circumstances were also taken into consideration. -
Section XXIV
The Quiment report found that the Habitual Offenders legislation was not effective. In 1977a huge re-drafting took place. It enacted section XXIV, which contains the Dangerous Offenders and Long-time Offenders provisions. These provisons could deem an individual a Dangerous Offender because of serious injury offences, either sexual or non-sexual. They could be sentenced to an indeterminate or determinate period of incarrceration. -
Becoming Dangerous
In 1988 the national parole board was allowed to detain offenders that had yet to be designated as dangerous. Statutory release can be withdrawn and offenders can be held to the end of their incarceration period in the interests of public safety, only if the national board felt that the offender was likely to re-offend in a sexual or violent manner. -
National Flagging System
1995, the National Flagging System was invented to track potential dangerous or long-term offenders. These high risk violent offenders are placed on the national CIPC system if they reoffend, steps will be taken to consider their dangerous offender or long term offender application. -
Bill C-55
In 1997 Bill C-55 made a couple changes to the dangerous offenders section in the criminal code the changes that took place were changing the parole period from three years to seven years. Bill C-55 introduced the "long term offender" definition, "long term supervision orders" that can be held up to 10 years, and it also outlined the new "fear of personal injury offence". -
Tackling Violent Crimes Act
In 2008 the Tackling Violent Crimes Act aimed to better protect the public in order to do this they declared more offenders as dangerous, which results in keeping them behind bars longer. Individuals convicted of three serious crimes have a minimum of two years to be considered a dangerous offender. -
Bill C-2
In 2008, Bill C-2 shifted onus on to the offender, it was no longer the crown attorneys task to prove that the offender on trial is dangerous but instead the offenders task to prove that he is not dangerous nor a threat to society. It is up to the crown to decide in open court to pursue a dangerous offender application, Bill C-2 was passed to increase the number of dangerous offender applications. -
Today's Dangerous Offender Legislation
Today in Canadian Criminal Law a person convicted and who is designated a dangerous offender can be subjected to an indeterminate prison sentence even if the offender's crime does or doesn't carry a life sentence. Its purpose is to keep violent and dangerous people away from harming society. After 7 years the parole board reviews the case, parole may be granted after the initial review. The parole board must review the case every two years.
