In last week’s RCMP report, one incident had police release suspects “on paperwork.”

To explore that further, Corporal Mike Miller explains how the decision to retain or release suspects is made.

In some instances, he says, if the suspects require medical treatment, as in the incident reported the previous week, Police will generally serve the suspects with an order to make a court appearance, and then have them seek medical treatment as required, releasing them on their own recognizance.

“A person’s life, or medical emergency, comes before the need to hold the suspect, in most circumstances,” says Miller.

RCMP have the power to impose a bail charge up to $500, but if they wish further conditions on a suspect’s release, or feel a larger bail amount should apply, or the suspect is unable to pay the amount set, or if police want the suspect to be remanded before court, they must speak to a Justice.

There is a Justice on duty 24 hours a day to deal with these types of situations.

At the present time, Police, suspects, and the Justice will meet via conference call, where the police act in a manner much like a crown prosecutor, making a case for whatever conditions they are requesting. The Justice will make the final determination from there.

Miller says the system will change on April 12, where not only will there be an on-call Justice, but also an on-call Crown prosecutor, changing the police officer’s role in the process.