Ron Stevens, Minister of
Justice and Attorney General

Over the past several months, I have had
the pleasure to meet and speak with many individuals involved in Alberta’s justice system.

This summer, I began to visit some of the rural parts of our province, to meet court staff, prosecutors, judges and community officials.

I will continue making these visits as they give me a unique opportunity to learn about some of the issues facing your communities.

The people I meet care so much about effective delivery of justice, and they share my desire to enhance public confidence in the justice system. They have a tremendous passion and love for what they do, and there is real motivation to provide better access to justice.

As minister, providing better access and improving your confidence in the justice system is my goal.

I know we can’t do this alone so I’m pleased to see our justice partners working with us to make an excellent justice system even better.

The Justice Policy Advisory Committee is made up of individuals from more than 30 organizations. Police, the judiciary, aboriginal groups, mental health, the legal community, government and many more, speak directly to the two co-chairs, Solicitor General Harvey Cenaiko and myself and share their vision for the future of justice in Alberta.

Your perspective on justice issues is valuable to us as we make decisions and lead our departments. I rely upon your input and insight.

I look forward to meeting more of you as we plan the future direction
of our justice system together.

Harvey Cenaiko,
Solicitor General

This year five RCMP officers lost their lives
in service to our province. Their sudden and tragic deaths remind us of the dangers that police officers face every day as they serve and protect Albertans. Our prayers are with the families and friends of these fallen officers.

The past 100 years have taken law enforcement from traditional “cops n’ robbers” to the new and unique challenges police officers deal with today. Challenges such as the rapid expansion of organized crime and technological crimes, more illegal guns and gangs who don’t hesitate to use them and the spread of highly addictive drugs that can be manufactured anywhere, anytime. Alberta’s booming economy is the envy of every province but a healthy economy also attracts criminal activity.

Budget 2005 created the single largest increase of police officers Alberta has seen in 20 years. Nearly 200 front-line RCMP and police officers are now available to impede criminal activity such as gangs, organized crime and child exploitation - not only in the cities - but in small rural areas as well. Extra funding has also increased grants to help smaller municipalities pay for policing costs.

In June we changed our name to better represent what we do. The name Alberta Solicitor General and Public Security will help Albertans know that my department ensures effective policing, security and correctional services to keep communities safe. The new title also reflects our commitment to work closely with our federal counterparts in the department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada.

The face of law enforcement has indeed changed over the past 100 years. What started as the town officer enforcing laws and holding criminals in a single jail cell has evolved into a comprehensive system of policing, correctional service and victim advocacy. Alberta Solicitor General and Public Security has a mandate to ensure the safety and well being of our communities and that’s what we intend to do for generations to come.

Terry Matchett,
Deputy Minister of Justice and
Deputy Attorney General

Our centennial year has been a time of celebration in Alberta, but events around the world this summer have made us pause and have highlighted again the very real need to be vigilant in our own province.
To better address the risks in our courts, staff have been working with other government departments, the judiciary and justice partners to develop a plan that will increase courthouse security across the province.

This year, government dedicated funds to implement that plan over the next three years. Key areas will include the expansion of videoconferencing in the courts, implementation of perimeter security, enhancement of courtroom security and increased security for Crown prosecutors’ offices.

As we move forward with these plans, court users may notice some changes. Security enhancements will be added according to the specific needs of the location. These improvements, including additional security personnel, or walk-through metal detectors and package scanners, much like the ones at the airport, will supplement security practices already in place.

Your support and patience are greatly appreciated while we work to keep our courthouses safe.

Eric McGhan,
Deputy Solicitor General
 

We have had a busy and productive spring and summer with several major initiatives launched and now well underway.

Alberta Solicitor General and Public Security is dealing aggressively with child exploitation and victimization through the development and support of a provincial Integrated Child Exploitation (ICE) unit. In addition to searching out predators and pedophiles on the web, members of the ICE Unit will actively promote public awareness and education about the sexual exploitation of children on the Internet.

Alberta is the first province in the country to provide stab resistant protective vests to all 1,100 correctional officers. Homemade spiked weapons, often referred to as ‘shivs’, are one of the greatest dangers facing frontline correctional workers. The vests will afford frontline staff a greater level of personal safety and security while on the job.

Police and community organizations helping victims of crime are receiving more financial support from our government than ever before. Grants are available for police-based victim service programs and community programs that support victims of crime throughout the criminal justice process.

These are just some of the exciting events going on in our department. I want to thank and congratulate the hardworking and talented staff at Alberta Solicitor General and Public Security for jobs well done on these projects. Please read on for more details on these and many more programs.

To learn more about what we are doing to keep Alberta communities safe please visit our website at http://www.solgps.gov.ab.ca