Bill Detail

Bill C-48, now law, reforms Canada's bail system to enhance public safety, particularly concerning violent offences. It introduces a 'reverse onus' for individuals charged with serious violent offences involving weapons who have prior convictions for similar crimes within the last five years. This means the accused must prove why they should be released, rather than the Crown proving they should be detained. The bill also expands 'reverse onus' to include certain firearms offences and intimate partner violence, even if the accused received a past discharge for such an offence. Furthermore, courts must now explicitly consider the accused's past violence convictions, the safety of the community and victims, and whether the accused belongs to an Indigenous or vulnerable population when making bail decisions, ensuring these factors are recorded.