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A timeline of the changes to the term "Dangerous Offender"
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"Habitual Offenders Act"
The Habitual Offender Act was introduced into Canadian Legislature in 1947. To be considered a Habitual Offender, the offender must be convicted of 3+ offences leading to continuing criminal lifestyle. The Habitual Offender Provision is similar to the British legislation enacted in 1904. -
"Sexual Psychopath Act"
The Sexual Psychopath Act was passed in 1948, to ensure that offenders would be identified as a Habitual Offender and assesed by two psychiatrists. If the individual is found as a sexual psychopath, an indetermined sentence is given and is to be reviewed by the justice minister every 3 years to see if the individual is eligible for parole. -
"Dangerous Offender"
The terms "Sexual Psychopaths" and "Habitual Offenders" were replaced in 1960 by Dangerous Offender. The title of "Dangerous Offender" applied to both sexual offenders and to those who committed violent acts. Instead of 3+ convictions, you could be considered a dangerous offender on one conviction if the individual appeared to be very dangerous. -
Bill C-51
A major re-drafting was done in 1977, creating Bill C-51 because the Habitual Offender's Legislation wasn't up the standards of people. An addition to this bill was that you could be deemed a dangerous offender for "seious personal injury offence". -
Bill C-55
Once again the legislation to dangerous offenders was changed to strengthen and made more efficient with handling dangerous offenders. The parole waiting perioed had been changed from 3 years to 7 years. It also introduced "long term offender" for individuals who have a high risk of re-offending and were a fear of personal injury. Since this Bill, 260 people have been ordered to be supervised for up to 10 years after their release. -
"National Flagging System"
The NFS was designed to track dangerous offenders and long term offenders across Canada so that Crown prosecuters were aware of the offenders future violent acts. -
"331"
According to Internal Government Documents there were 331 dangerous offenders accross Canada as of March 7, 2004. -
"up 20 in 2 years"
As of July 2006, there are 351 active Dangerous Offenders in Canada. -
Bill C-27
On May 4th, 2007, Bill C-27 passed the second reading and is now before the Justice Committee, This bill proposes that the requirements of finding a dangerous offender is reduced and to impose a sentence of 2 years or more (rather than 10), and incarcerated up until the offender is risk free in society. The bill intends to keep the peace by offenders attending treatment, wearing electronic monitoring device, and/or curfew hours.
