Bill C-587, also known as the Respecting Families of Murdered and Brutalized Persons Act, seeks to amend the Criminal Code regarding parole eligibility for offenders convicted of specific combinations of crimes. Specifically, it targets individuals found guilty of abduction, sexual assault, and murder against the same victim during the same event or series of events.
The bill proposes that these offenders should face a minimum of 25 years of imprisonment before becoming eligible for parole. However, the presiding judge would have the authority to extend this period up to 40 years, taking into account the jury's recommendation, the offender's character, the nature of the crimes, and the circumstances surrounding the crimes.
Furthermore, the bill introduces a requirement for the judge to ask the jury if they wish to make a recommendation regarding the number of years the offender should serve before being eligible for parole. While the jury is not obligated to provide a recommendation, any such recommendation would be considered by the judge when determining the parole ineligibility period. The judge then has the ability to set the parole ineligibility period to between 25 and 40 years.
Crime
Bill C-587 aims to increase the period of parole ineligibility for individuals convicted of abduction, sexual assault, and murder of the same victim. It allows a judge to extend the parole ineligibility period to between 25 and 40 years, considering the jury's recommendation and the circumstances of the crime.