Our government is delivering new measures to strengthen the province’s bail system and protect Ontario communities.
As part of Ontario’s comprehensive bail strategy, these new measures will strengthen bail compliance, improve the collection of forfeited bail payments, and keep violent, repeat offenders behind bars.
The new measures being implemented will:
- Make a cash security deposit mandatory once an accused person is released from custody, with the full court ordered amount required to be paid within two business days and in accordance with the terms of their release order
- Require sureties to provide current contact and identification information to help the province collect forfeited bail money more effectively if no security deposit is on file
- Enhance collection tools for bail debts such as wage and bank account garnishment, property liens, and the seizure and sale of property
To better track repeat offenders and those who fail to comply with their bail conditions, we are also enhancing digital tools and information systems, including the creation of a surety database to help streamline and strengthen surety checks.
Taken together, these new measures are closing the gaps in the bail system, strengthening accountability, and ensuring the justice system has the tools it needs to keep dangerous offenders off our streets.