The B.C. Government's has released recommendations and an executive summary from a new report into prolific offending in the province.
The report, first commissioned back in May of this year, has been produced by former Vancouver Police Department deputy chief Doug LePard and health researcher and criminologist Amanda Butler.
The report includes 28 recommendations, focused on “addressing critical gaps in the continuum of care for people with mental health and substance use needs who are involved with the criminal justice system.”
In the executive summary, LePard and Butler say the report looks into “prolific offenders,” as well as “an apparent increase in violent, unprovoked stranger attacks generally believed to be committed by people with mental disorder and substance use needs.”
The report came about after lobbying from the province's mayors, including Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran, co-chair of the BC Urban Mayors' Caucus.
It was initially due by Sept. 2, but a short extension was required. The full report is expected to be released later this month.
In an update last month, the province said “an overwhelming number of people have reached out to the experts to share their experiences and provide recommendations on prolific offenders, including about highly visible crime in downtown cores and unprovoked, violent stranger attacks.”
More to come.
