The British Columbia government has announced plans to increase oversight for jail guards in the province through amendments to the Police Act.
The proposed changes, which were introduced on Tuesday, aim to strengthen accountability and transparency within the province’s correctional system.
According to the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Mike Farnworth, the amendments will give the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) the authority to investigate complaints against jail guards.
Currently, the OPCC only has the power to investigate complaints against municipal police officers and the RCMP.
Farnworth stated that this expansion of the OPCC’s jurisdiction is a crucial step towards ensuring that all correctional staff are held accountable for their actions.
The proposed amendments also include the creation of a new independent oversight body, the Independent Investigations Office (IIO), which will be responsible for investigating serious incidents involving correctional officers.
This new body will have the power to investigate incidents such as deaths, serious injuries, and allegations of sexual assault.
Farnworth emphasized that these changes are necessary to ensure that the correctional system is held to the same standards of accountability and transparency as other law enforcement agencies in the province.
The proposed amendments have been welcomed by the BC Civil Liberties Association, which has been advocating for increased oversight of the province’s correctional system for years.
The association’s executive director, Harsha Walia, stated that these changes are a positive step towards addressing the systemic issues within the correctional system and ensuring the protection of human rights.
The amendments will now go through a consultation process before being brought to the legislature for debate.
If passed, they will bring much-needed accountability and transparency to the province’s correctional system, ultimately leading to a safer and more just society for all.
