LPS program designed to help repeat offenders
By Lethbridge Herald on October 2, 2025.
Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald
The Lethbridge Police Service has launched a new program that brings together law enforcement and community partners, to enhance public safety by reducing the tendency of convicted criminals to reoffend.
Cst. Rob Saar said Wednesday that the Integrated Offender Management (IOM) program is an evidence-based approach that focuses on individuals who disproportionately contribute to crime and public disorder. Research shows approximately six to 10 per cent of offenders are responsible for up to 60 per cent of crime and targeted intervention can have a significant impact.
Saar said the IOM program in other jurisdictions has resulted in a 35 to 40 per cent reduction in reoffending, helping to break the cycle of repeat crime, reduce victimization and alleviate pressures on police, the courts and social services.
The Lethbridge pilot is a one-year partnership with the Government of Alberta and is supported by $156,000 in provincial grant funding, said Saar. At the end of that first year, he hopes to see a 40 per cent drop in crime and even though that might be a difficult goal, it’s worth the effort.Â
IOM offenders are identified using a data-driven methodology based on Crime Severity Index scores and offending frequency, ensuring resources are focused on those causing the most harm. Police and partner agencies then develop individualized support plans that address underlying factors such as mental health and substance use, while maintaining a strong justice response.
Saar said interventions are matched to each offender’s risk level and personal circumstances, maximizing the likelihood of rehabilitation and reducing the risk of re-offending.
Each service across the province that has been using the program models is a bit different, said Saar, so LPS is will work to find the “right blend” for them. For the program, “the worst of the worst” will be selected and they can choose to participate or not.Â
“If they don’t participate there will be straight enforcement view on them, but if they choose to take the supports that we are offering and get help from our community partners for housing, addictions, income support and re-training, then they have every chance to be successful and no longer have that need to commit the crimes they are committing,” said Saar.Â
If those chosen for the program decide to receive the help, he will do everything he can to put them in contact with the right people to help them be successful.Â
“The courts are aware of the program, and we do vary detailed court packages for the offenders that list their long history and that they were given options, and a chance to break out of the cycle,” said Saar.Â
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Cautiously optimistic for this program . . . but I will say that many of the crimes committed downtown area are from the people who are out all night on the streets, sleeping rough around businesses, Galt Gardens, near the shelter, and around other areas of the city. I say other areas of the city, because the issues have spread north, south, east and west from downtown as gangs increase and territory battles push them across the city.
When you allow the issues to build up, the issues spread! One report from LPS stated that around 70% of the crimes downtown came from the people on the streets, the ones hanging out day and night, in encampments and sleeping rough and by my own observations, that would be about right!
Yet. . . we allow it! One member is not going to make much of a difference!
The laws are already in place to prevent the loitering, sleeping rough, encampments but are not being enforced. Some of these people who are committing the crimes, who have been out all night on the streets are already housed, yet they continue their crimes and continue to hang on the streets.
Often you can walk through Galt Gardens and see many of those people who the government is paying to be housed . . . still hanging out, doing drugs with their ‘buddies’ in the park or in front of businesses, only returning to sleep once in awhile, shower, regroup and do it all over again . . . including committing crimes.
We already have supports in place and although I support anything that will help end the issues on our streets, at one point we have to take off the gloves and enforce the laws to deal with those have been allowed to be on the streets, living a life of crime, without deterrents.
We have allowed this to grow . . . by doing so, we have conditioned or bred a large group of people to believe they allowed to live lawless on our streets . . . a group who do not respect themselves, let alone the citizens, the business owners or the property. They think nothing of scarring property with their gang tags, graffiti, or starting fires beside or inside buildings. We have already had a few fires on structures caused by them, and as cold nights become the norm, we will see more buildings burn.
We don’t hear about many of these fires, unless they are buildings like the hotel they burned or the Bow On Tong . . . one of these times there will be loss of life or lives!
What happens on our streets is what we allow to happen on our streets, or in this case, what law enforcement allows to happen on our streets. They allowed these lawless groups to grow on our streets!
Law enforcement is needed to complete this process of cleaning up the streets. We do not have to allow it! There has to be rules to keep us all safe and they those rules are not enforced, we all pay the price! The taxpayer should not have to pay for leadership not doing their jobs!