By Sarah Mills/CJME News Staff

Ralph Goodale says to “focus on the needs of the victims” after Graham James parole decision

Sep 16, 2016 | 5:51 PM

There is little Ralph Goodale says he can do now that convicted pedophile Graham James has received full parole.

James was convicted of sexually assaulting teenage boys in the 1970s and 1980s when he was coaching the Swift Current Broncos.

He remains on parole until the end of his seven year sentence in 2019.

Goodale admits there is a level of “revulsion” at the crimes committed by James but does not make any suggestion that stiffer sentences will be introduced.

What he does say is that the needs of the victims of crime must always be at the forefront.

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“What we need to do is focus on the needs of the victims and make sure they have the supports they need to cope with their trauma,” Goodale said.

As for the decision making process of the National Parole Board, that is out of Goodale’s hands.

“Is it better for public safety to arrange for a gradual kind of release over time under supervision or do you just wait until the end of the sentence and the release is cold turkey and there is no supervision,” Goodale argued. “They make the judgement call about what is the best in any particular set of circumstances, totally independent of the political process but public safety must be their overriding consideration.”

Email smills@cjme.com

Twitter @smillsSK