'ABOVE 30 OFFENDERS IS A LOT TO MANAGE'

SINCE 2019, NUMBER OF OFFENDERS SOUTH SIMCOE POLICE ENFORCES HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED

The number of serious offenders released on house arrest in Innisfil and Bradford has more than doubled in the past three years.

During a Bradford West Gwillimbury and Innisfil Police Services Board meeting last month, Const. Jesse McGee with the South Simcoe Police Service, who manages the offender management unit, talked about how they enforce criminal offenders living in the community.

"Police want to keep these people accountable and make sure they are following their conditions," McGee said.

One of the main reasons these offenders are released back into the community is because of COVID-19, and the decrease in space in jail due to growing populations, McGee said.

Some of the more serious offenders have done crimes such as drug trafficking, firearms and robbery.

Part of the unit's responsibilities is to check up on the offenders as regularly and evenly as possible, McGee said.

In 2019, the number of serious offenders on house arrest was 15 people; in 2022, that number has risen to more than 30 — and five were just added to the list in the past month.

"Above 30 offenders is a lot to manage," McGee said. "That's at a

point where we can't be checking every offender released on conditions, so we have to prioritize."

As the list gets longer, McGee said, they use a scoring matrix to deem who gets checked regularly and who does not. For example,

firearms offences is worth 10 points, and whoever scores in the top 10 or 20, depending on what police can manage, will be checked.

The calculator is used in other jurisdictions, as well, and has been defended in court as ensuring impartiality.

McGee said the calculator is a useful tool when they can't manage the sheer numbers: "With the population growing here, it's the challenge we are seeing now."

South Simcoe police are notified of new releases in the area by the courts unit and other offender management units across Ontario.

All offenders must have at least one surety. In the case when an offender creates a condition, police will lay charges or attempt to locate them if they have fled.

McGee said other roles and responsibilities of the offender management include:

• warrant checks;

• assisting and following up with Crime Stoppers tips when possible;

• surveillance;

• assisting with radio calls when front-line shifts are low or very busy.