No charges for possession of 23 grams of meth: Barrhead RCMP

BARRHEAD – Sgt. Colin Hack of the Barrhead RCMP detachment advised the gathering at the RCMP Town Hall on Jan.28 that the RCMP is now using a pre-charge approval model.

“We send the core package, and they come back and say withdrawn, denied, or it's approved,” said Hack explaining the procedure.

Hack gave an example of a Barrhead suspect who was arrested with 23 grams of methamphetamines.

The arrest was made when the suspect was picked up on a warrant for arrest for outstanding charges.

The suspect was searched, and the drugs were discovered.

The details were presented through the pre-approval model, and the Barrhead RCMP were advised that the case would not go to court.

Drug possession is illegal but in this case the pre-approval process rejected the case going to trial.

Town hall attendees were shocked.

One man whose daughter died from an overdose was especially upset that a person with that many drugs in their possession would not be charged.

Several attendees shared stories and concerns about drug dealers in town and the risks to community children and citizens.

After an arrest is made the details of the charges are submitted through a pre-charge approval model to the Alberta Crown Prosecution Services.

The reviews are completed by urban senior prosecutors.

“There's no consistency in the pre-approval process,” said Hack about the current situation.

At this point there are different results for similar crimes with little to no explanation.

Hack provided an example of a homeless person who shoplifted groceries where the pre-approval process returned a denied to proceed decision.

Similar crimes but different results.

One individual stole his own prescription from a drug store which is theft, but it was denied proceeding in the pre-approval process.

Hack made the point that in a small town if it got around town that prescription theft won’t be prosecuted it could start a real problem.

In a theft case the pre-approval process might provide an approved to proceed decision in the next case presented.

A suggested scenario outlined that the store could ban the person from the store and then charge them with trespassing which would be a larger fine.

Everyone at the Town Hall appeared concerned that the review group may not understand the impacts of their decisions on smaller close-knit communities.

On Jan. 10 the RCMP released notice to media that 50 percent of detachments are using the new pre-approval process with the Alberta Crown Prosecution Services.

The remainder of the detachments are to be phased into the model by June.

“News releases issued by the Alberta RCMP may not immediately name the individual(s) arrested or their criminal charges,” said the news release on the RCMP website.

“This information may only be provided in subsequent news release updates if criminal charges are ultimately laid.”

The pre-charge approval model has been implemented to limit delays in bringing suspects to trial.

If it is determined that conviction is doubtful, the criminal would not go to court to be charged.

It is a learning situation where everyone is trying to understand how to provide the best information up front to ensure suspects go to trial.

Barrhead RCMP and Town Council have agreed that in cases where a suspect is a danger to residents, they will work together to ensure those cases go to trial.