Calgary police have identified a small group of individuals responsible for a significant portion of crime in the city. Ahead of a downtown safety operation on November 5, Superintendent Scott Boyd revealed that approximately 75 people, referred to as a "high system user group," are responsible for a disproportionate amount of criminal activity in Calgary.

During his mayoral campaign, Jeromy Farkas highlighted a similar concern, proposing to enhance community policing efforts targeting the city’s top 100 repeat violent offenders.

Insp. Jason Bobrowich explained that the term "high system user" refers to individuals who have generated numerous calls for police service due to social disorder and criminal behavior. He noted, "There really isn't a particular profile of a person. It's totally based on behavior patterns that we have identified … [we’ve] seen them perpetually going through the criminal justice system and repeating the cycles."

The types of offenses committed by these individuals range from public intoxication and drug use to theft and more serious crimes like assault.

During the downtown safety blitz, officers patrolled the area, making arrests and issuing tickets while also directing individuals in need to support services. Although officers were not specifically targeting habitual offenders, they operated in areas where these individuals are known to frequent. For instance, police reported a convenience store robbery during the operation, leading to the arrest of a suspect identified as a high system user who was allegedly violating bail conditions.

The idea that a small number of offenders are responsible for a large percentage of crimes is a well-established concept in criminology. Doug King, a criminal justice professor at Mount Royal University, stated, "They tend to not just repeat, but they tend to repeat more often. So they might make out maybe 25 percent of the crimes that are committed, and they are about 10 percent of the offender population." He added that most individuals who commit crimes do not reoffend.

Calgary Police Chief Katie McLellan emphasized the need for changes within the justice system to address the issue of repeat offenders. She stated, "When we take these individuals before a justice of the peace and they are those high-risk repeat offenders, that’s where we come forward and talk about, there needs to be another plan, they can’t continue to be released, and they can’t continue to commit the same offences over and over again."

Bobrowich mentioned that Calgary police have a comprehensive tracking system for these individuals, monitoring their court dates and ensuring that dedicated personnel attend their hearings. However, King pointed out that gathering sufficient evidence to hold these individuals accountable can be challenging.

"If you want to get those 75 [people], you’ve got to get evidence that they actually committed the offences. And that's harder than people tend to think," he said.

Concerns about overcrowded remand centers and the bail system have also been raised. Arthur Green, a spokesperson for Alberta's Minister of Public Safety, acknowledged these issues, stating, "Alberta Correctional Services manages inmate populations with both daily operations and long-term planning in mind." He criticized the federal bail system, arguing that it has failed to protect public safety.

In response to these concerns, the federal government recently announced plans to reform the bail system to make it more difficult for violent repeat offenders to be released.

Bobrowich noted that while the proposed bail reforms may focus on the most dangerous offenders, Calgary police are adopting a holistic approach to support the high system users. He reported success in helping some individuals through treatment programs and reconnecting them with supportive family members.

Krysia Przepiorka, a criminal defense lawyer, emphasized the importance of addressing underlying issues such as homelessness, mental health, and addiction. She argued that incarceration alone does not solve these problems, stating, "There are individuals where jail isn't solving anything, but for giving them a break from society, and that's not solving any underlying issues that may have brought that individual into the justice system."

The situation highlights the complexities of addressing crime and the need for a multifaceted approach to support vulnerable populations in Calgary.