Released on March 25, 2009
The Government of Saskatchewan welcomes the federal government's proposal to abolish the "two-for-one" credit for time served in pre-trial custody.
"We have been pressing Ottawa on this point for some time," Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan said. "It was on the agenda at last September's meeting of federal and provincial ministers and again at last weekend's western ministers meeting. We look forward to learning the details when the legislation is introduced on Friday."
The proposed legislation would abolish the "two-for-one" time credit that allows twice the time spent in remand to be deducted from an offender's final jail sentence. This provision was originally intended to compensate for lack of programming in remand centres, which made time served there more restrictive than for regular prisoners.
"Removing the "two-for-one" credit certainly simplifies the remand system," Corrections, Public Safety and Policing Minister Darryl Hickie said. "It could potentially reduce the pressure on remand if offenders are encouraged to resolve their charges earlier, since there will no longer be an incentive for them to serve time on remand."
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For more information, contact:
Laur'Lei Silzer
Justice and Attorney General
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0775
Email: laurlei.silzer@gov.sk.ca
Judy Orthner
Corrections, Public Safety and Policing
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5883
Email: judy.orthner@gov.sk.ca