After a review of his controversial transfer, the Correctional Service of Canada has concluded that Paul Bernardo is suited for medium-security prison and will remain in one for now. The review, released on Thursday, found that his transfer from Millhaven Institution, a maximum-security facility, to La Macaza Institution, a medium-security prison, on May 29, was “sound.” The CSC says It “followed all applicable laws and policies”. Berrnardo’s transfer sparked outrage and calls from the Conservatives for Public Safety Minister, Marco Mendicino, to resign. In a statement addressing the findings of the review, Anne Kelly, Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada, said that “even though CSC went above policy in this case to notify victims, additional steps could have been taken to provide more information.” The review noted that Bernardo’s move did not give him any increased access to the community, saying “he would be housed behind a secure, controlled perimeter and his movements and associations would be regulated and monitored.” As for the decision to reclassify Bernardo as medium-risk for the first time since 1999, the CSC said “across records, the institutional behaviour of the offender is described as generally conformist. It added that the offender’s Case Management Team has worked for many years to facilitate the offender’s integration within the inmate population.”
Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino has issued a Ministerial Direction to the Correctional Service of Canada to ensure victims’ rights are considered from the beginning and strengthen the way it shares information with victims and the government. His office says the direction will improve notification to victims surrounding security classification and transfers of offenders, and establish a formal process to notify the Minister.
Tim Danson, the lawyer for the French and Mahaffy families, says at this point he hasn’t had time to fully analyze the review, but offered his “preliminary observations”, saying they do not accept that Paul Bernardo should have been transferred to a medium security facility on the basis of the reasons stated in the Report and at Thursday’s news conference. Danson adds they will need more time to access the Reports’ findings that the transfer was done in accordance with all applicable laws and policies. ”
Meanwhile, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, was quick to denounce the decision, blaming Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for “soft-on crime policies”. In a joint-statement with other Conservative Party members, Poilievre said the decision is “a direct result of disastrous Liberal policies.”
