REGINA – Saskatchewan’s justice minister is applauding proposed federal legislation to curb how much credit convicted criminals get for time spent in pre-trial custody.
Don Morgan says getting rid of the two-for-one credit will help the public’s perception of the justice system.
The federal justice minister plans to introduce a bill Friday to tackle the issue of double credit for pre-trial detention.
The argument for giving the credit has been that it compensates inmates for “dead time” waiting for their trials in overcrowded provincial jails that lack proper rehabilitation programs.
But Morgan says the public wonders whether criminals are “getting a bargain” when their sentences are reduced.
He also says legislation would help deter prisoners who try to stretch their period in pre-trial custody to reduce their overall time behind bars.
