Photo: SFPS
Smiths Falls Police Chief Jodi Empey says proposed bail reforms from the Ontario government could mark a major shift in keeping high-risk repeat offenders out of local communities.
The province announced plans to require accused persons or their sureties to pay the full court-ordered amount up front, saying the change will make bail “more real and consequential” while improving public safety.
Empey told LanarkLeedsToday.ca its a step in the right direction.
The SFPS and Lanark County OPP have long called for stronger bail rules, arguing that repeat offenders are too often released and quickly cycle back into the community.
Critics say the move could unfairly detain people with low incomes while doing little to address the root causes of crime, or repeat offenders. Empey agrees it needs to be addressed.
Empey says chiefs have pushed for reforms for years, especially after the murder of OPP Officer Grzegorz “Greg” Pierzchala, who was killed by a high-risk repeat offender in 2022.
One major change targets “professional sureties” who post cash for offenders they do not know. Empey says the new rules would finally ensure that money is taken if an offender breaches their conditions — something she has only seen happen once in her entire career.
Empey says her service stays focused on keeping violence seen in larger cities from reaching Smiths Falls.
The chief also highlighted the province’s upcoming “Bail Dashboard,” expected in 2026, which will alert police when high-risk offenders move into their jurisdiction.
Empey says a recent case of a high-risk weapons offender moving to Smiths Falls showed why that tool is urgently needed.
Still, Empey warns the reforms must work in practice, not just on paper, noting that courts will need clear direction to avoid loopholes.
