Justice committee  We agree with the statement. I think I highlighted that in our submission this afternoon. We feel that public safety must be the most important underlying factor in the bill and going forward. It has to be the top consideration.

Justice committee  Yes, certainly.

Justice committee  No, I don't, not at all. Victims certainly recognize that most children or most adolescents who are involved with the youth criminal justice system have not committed serious violent crimes. It's only a small minority, and even those who have been impacted as victims, whether it's by young offenders or adult offenders, don't want that person to do it again.

Justice committee  Just to repeat what I've said throughout the brief, many of the families we deal with are concerned about young people with long histories of either extrajudicial measures or previous crimes. They feel that they're released on bail and are pretty much free to do whatever they want--that the person who is responsible for them, a parent or whoever, isn't keeping adequate supervision of them.

Justice committee  Right.

Justice committee  Generally our work is with victims and survivors of violent crime. When we're providing support during a case or following sentencing, there are issues having to do with the offender that arise at all instances of the processes, but our work is generally for survivors, not for people who are accused or convicted.

Justice committee  I think, as I said in my submission and on behalf of the people we work for, some of those principles are very important. Though taken from the adult system, if you will, some are currently missing from the youth system. It doesn't mean that you can't still treat youth in an age-appropriate way, and the system is much more focused in rehabilitation and reintegration.

Justice committee  Thank you, and good afternoon. The Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, or CRCVC, is a national non-profit advocacy group for victims and survivors of violent crime. We provide direct assistance and support to victims across the country, and we advocate for public safety and improved services and rights for crime victims.

Justice committee  I don't know that there is an extra protection on it, but to have it in there is an important measure for families who have gone through what the Bagbys have gone through to know that. I realize the Criminal Code judges are already supposed to consider the safety of victims before releasing an accused on bail, but it doesn't happen enough.

Justice committee  As you just said a couple of seconds ago, it's really difficult. The word “closure” is not something that we use often with the people we work with, because, as you said, in cases of homicide there really can be no closure. The Bagbys are here trying to make a change for the better, to protect society, and that is something that a lot of the families that we have seen over the years have a strong need to do, to ensure that no one else is harmed in the way they have been harmed.

Justice committee  Okay. I'm sorry. These children often survive because of the sole actions of their murdered parents and will likely be irreparably harmed by these offences. It was argued in the Turner case that Shirley Turner need not be detained, as she had allegedly sought to harm and ultimately murdered the only person she would have wanted to harm.

Justice committee  Thank you. Good morning. The Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime is a national, non-profit advocacy group for victims and survivors of serious, violent crime. We provide direct assistance and support to victims across the country, as well as advocating for public safety and improved services and rights for crime victims.