In the News Christopher’s Law I thas been thirteen years since eleven-year-old Christopher Sve- phenson was abducted from a suburban shopping mall and mur- dered at the hands of a convicted pedophile on federal starutory re- Tease, At the 1993 inquest into Cluistopher’s death, the coroner's jury recommended the creation of a national registry for con- victed sex offenders. Cluisto- pher’s death coupled with the jury's recommendation prompted the Ontario government to intro- duce legislation that creates Can- adi’ first provincial registry of convicted sex offenders. An- those who were convicted of a sex olfence on or after the day Headquarcers in Orillia and will provide 24-hour support for pu- lice services throughout the prov- ince. ‘The database is accessible only to police and is designed to provide a current address and photo of an offender. Police ser- vices will be responsible for es- | tablishing a registration site(s) where offenders report in the community when they have taken up residence for 15 days or more. The onus to report rests with the convicted sex offender. Offend crs will be required to report un nly for ten years and for those convicted of multiple offences or where the maximum sentence is more than ten yeus they will be dred to report annually for compliance include a fine of up the legislation came into force. to $25,000 or in the case of a sub- “Byeryone in Ontario has a Examples of criteria offences sequent offence imprisonment for right to feel safe in their com- include sexual imerference, sex- a term of not more than two years mmities” ual exploitation, sexual assault less a day. and child pornography to name The law establishes a provincial but afew. ‘The need for a sex offender regis registration system for convicted ‘The Ontario Provincial Police trys clear in that it fills a pap that sex offenders, obligating them to (OPP) on behalf of the Ministry currenly exists inthe national da. report to police. The of the Solicitor General will tabank. The databank, the Cana- registry a database that ; dian Police Information 2 ja 5 spher’s mother and I congratulate this Government, the ie wall ee tenat various police services and ll tbe stakeholders inthis bold teg. entre (CPIC) isnot re vn offenders seleased into clarive initiative. Christopher's Law underscores the critical *bI¢ in providing current the community. That in- imporunce for police wo bave current information on con. addresses for offenders, formation can inchide the victed, released sex offenders rwho would be a risk to re-offend; has limited search capa- sex offender’s name, date i represents « funcamental component in the safery of our bilities and does not cap- of birth, address and Smilies and communities. ture offender photo- other pertinent details 35 fru Stephenson graphs. With the new required. Mandatory reg- Apel 2601 registry, police will now istration applies to those have an investigative tool individuals who were with which to work in convicted of a criteria sex those carly hours follow- offence in Canada and were serv- manage the Registry. ‘The Cen- ing an abduction or when investi ing a sentence on the day Christo- _ tral Sex Offender Registry will gating random sex offences. plir’s Law was proclaimed ur be housed at OPP General