$1.9 MILLION TO REDUCE SERIOUS VIOLENT CRIME IN SASKATCHEWAN

The Government of Saskatchewan is fulfilling its promise to improve safety and security in the province by investing $1.9 million into a new Serious Violent Offender Response to target high risk serious violent offenders.

Responsibility for this new program will be shared between the Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing and the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General. The Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing will invest $1.23 million for four new police officers, six new probation officers, two support staff and one clinical director. The Ministry of Justice and Attorney General will invest $700,000 for five additional prosecutors and five support staff. This is the first stage of a $3 million, four-year commitment.

"This is an important step in addressing serious violent crime in communities and across the province," Corrections, Public Safety and Policing Minister D.F. (Yogi) Huyghebaert said. "This approach will focus on serious violent offenders and provides an effective and long-term response to ensuring that Saskatchewan communities are safer and more secure."

Prosecutions will work closely with Policing and Adult Probation units to track and identify high risk serious violent offenders. Through this collaborative approach, staff will monitor the profiles of violent offenders to help ensure they are dealt with appropriately in the justice system.

"This shared program will be an effective tool for dealing with Saskatchewan's high risk violent offenders," Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan said. "It is a significant enhancement in our province's ability to identify, monitor and prosecute those who represent a significant threat to the public."

The new resources dedicated to Public Prosecutions will be located in Regina, Saskatoon, North Battleford, Meadow Lake, Prince Albert and Melfort. The new resources from Corrections, Public Safety and Policing will be located in Saskatoon and North Battleford.

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For more information, contact:

Art Jones
Corrections, Public Safety and Policing
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8606
Email: art.jones@gov.sk.ca

Noel Busse
Justice and Attorney General
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8959
Email: noel.busse@gov.sk.ca