The NDP - "We put the 'K' in Kwality"

B.C.'s $1,000,000.00 Criminal Screening Program
For people who's jobs place them in contact with children

Rapists, Pimp Allowed To Keep Jobs Working With Children
Reference Article: Vancouver Sun - October 23, 1997 - A1

In 1995, B.C.'s NDP government created a $1,000,000.00 screening program for people who work with children. Of the 285,472 people screened:

Included in the 217 persons cleared, are rapists, a pimp who sold child prostitutes, and kidnappers. There are also people convicted of having sex with minors, exposure, attempted murder, indecent acts, threatening, drug trafficking, assault and telephone harassment.

"What we set out to do was to do the checks, and I believe that it's successful that way, by that definition." -- Gerry Stearns, deputy registrar, B.C. Ministry of Attorney-General

Sorry, but I don't get it, Gerry. Once you identify the risky people, shouldn't you actually DO something about it?

"[B.C.'s criminal screening process is] leading the country." -- Glen Clark, B.C. Premier

What?! How can you possibly classify a program as 'leading', that lets pimps, rapists and sexual offenders continue to work in contact with children AFTER they've been identified as such?

The attorney-general ministry says that one benefit of the new system is its deterrent effect, as people may not apply for certain jobs because they know they will be deemed a risk:

"We have a hunch that some of it is a deterrent effect." -- Gerry Stearns, deputy registrar, B.C. Ministry of Attorney-General

That's right, Gerry. The sexual offender has a 1.76% chance of being identified as a 'risk'. I guess by your standards, that must be hell of a deterrent. But in the real world, it's not.

Follow-up Story
Job-screening System Reviewed
Reference Article: Vancouver Sun - November 6, 1997 - B2C

Lynn Smith, the former law dean at UBC, has been appointed to review the province's controversial criminal screening program, Attorney-general Ujjal Dosanjh announced.

"Recent program statistics have raised serious concerns about the adjudication process", Dosanjh said.

Smith has until January 31, 1998 to complete her investigation. Dosanjh said the report will be made public.

Comment: The attorney-general gets full points for reacting so quickly to the original Sun article. The three adjudicators should be removed immediately, as it is apparent that they haven't got a clue about what they're doing.