OTTAWA – The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has released a detailed report affirming the “sound” decision to transfer notorious serial rapist and convicted killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison. The review, conducted by CSC Commissioner Anne Kelly, found that the decision to relocate Bernardo from the maximum-security Millhaven Institution in Ontario to the medium-security La Macaza Institution in Quebec was in line with applicable laws and policies.
The transfer was based on an effective offender integration plan and Bernardo’s “generally conformist” behavior, as his security classification had been reviewed 14 times between 1999 and 2022, roughly every two years as required. While CSC went above policy to notify victims, the panel recommended stronger victim notifications and engagement by establishing a dedicated committee, which will be implemented.
Kelly, in a statement accompanying the report, acknowledged that some might not support the decision, but emphasized that feelings toward an offender must not guide decisions. She defended the correctional system as fundamentally based on the rehabilitation of offenders, even for life-term prisoners like Bernardo.
Paul Bernardo, 58, is serving an indeterminate life sentence as a dangerous offender. He was convicted in 1995 for the brutal kidnap, rape, torture, and murder of two teenagers, Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy, in the early 1990s near St. Catharines, Ontario. He was also found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Tammy Homolka.
The report provides significant details about Bernardo’s time behind bars, his behavior, and previous requests for transfers. Despite meeting criteria to move to medium security in the past, the heightened safety risk due to his high-profile offender status kept him in maximum security until the most recent review in November 2022. After successful integration efforts, Bernardo applied for and received approval for his transfer to La Macaza Institution.
CSC clarified that La Macaza has comparable security protocols to Millhaven, including high fences, strict guarding, and inmate movement monitoring. The agency noted that at any time, an inmate can be returned to a higher security level if deemed necessary for public safety, and Bernardo is still considered a high risk.
The transfer decision was kept confidential within the government until it occurred, causing political controversy involving Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino. A three-person committee reviewed the appropriateness of Bernardo’s security classification and transfer in response to concerns from the victims’ families and Canadians. Mendicino will issue a ministerial directive requiring reforms in how high-profile prison transfers are handled.
The directive includes gathering and considering victim information and input at the outset, considering whether victims live near the institution where an offender may be transferred, and formally notifying the minister of public safety in cases of high-profile offenders being moved to a reduced security level.
As the report was released, Mendicino expressed the government’s commitment to treat victims and their families with dignity and respect, ensuring the Victims Bill of Rights is followed and community safety is prioritized.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau refrained from commenting on whether Mendicino handled the Bernardo file properly but assured the public that the justice system operates independently, emphasizing the importance of putting victims and families first and ensuring rigorous processes.