Comments should be submitted by April 30, 1998. Despite a steady drop in the overall crime rate during the 90s, Canadians' fear of crime persists. There are several reasons for this paradox. For example, tragic failures in the criminal justice system overshadow its successes, and have eroded confidence in the system. Canadians also deserve more and better information on how the system works and what the Government is doing to make it more effective.
Public safety is the number one priority of Canada's criminal justice system.
The Government has already taken several measures to tighten the system for dangerous, violent offenders. But at the same time, it has also tried to make the system more effective, by distinguishing between those offenders who need to be separated from society and those who could be better managed in the community. This balanced approach recognizes that offenders come from the community and almost all will return there, so the best long-term public protection is their gradual release under strict control and supervision. The best way to protect society is to assess and manage the risk presented by an offender. Canada's correctional system does this through risk assessment and risk management.