As a pastor, I preach forgiveness. As a concerned dad, I see the need for bail reform

This First Person article is written by Jason McAllister, who lives in Prince George, B.C. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.

As I rounded the corner toward my home, I saw the flashing lights. My stomach churned and my heart dropped. Not this again. I approached the officer who had blocked off the entrance to my street and asked her what was going on. She couldn't elaborate other than to tell me that it wasn't safe to drive down my street and enter my home. 

"But my wife and children are in the house," I pleaded. 

"I'm sorry, but it isn't safe for you. We should have this operation done within 45 minutes and you can then return home," she said. 

Powerless, I drove away and called my wife on the phone. 

"They have a SWAT team and a large truck is smashing out the windows in the neighbouring house," she said. "They're firing smoke bombs and what looks like tear gas into the house. You can't see the street anymore." 

I felt helpless as I sat in my vehicle a few blocks away, listening as my wife described the horror unfolding on our street as she watched from our front window. I was eventually allowed to return home after what felt like an eternity. We saw numerous people arrested before the police drove off. 

My youngest daughter had nightmares for weeks after that incident. Watching the police smash the windows in the nearby house caused her to develop a fear that the same would happen to our house; she refused to sleep near a window in our own home. I realized two things: It was time to move and I needed a political party that was willing to tackle proper bail reform for violent, repeat offenders. 

For most of my life, I had never given much thought to the issue of bail reform or how the system works. But since moving to this street in Prince George, B.C. five years ago, it often takes up much real estate in my head. My family has witnessed two vehicles on fire, multiple arrests, what appears to be a steady stream of people going in and out of that house, strangers passed out on the neighbouring lawn across the street, constant police presence and RCMP on megaphones late at night. 

And then, there was a homicide in broad daylight in that very house.  

• Can you guess how crime rates changed under Harper and Trudeau?

I live in what is considered a safe neighbourhood in my city. It does not, however, feel safe when I see people being arrested on one day, out walking down the street on the next, only to be arrested once again. It's infuriating to watch events like these unfold in my neighbourhood and then read the news a week later to see that yet another repeat, violent offender was arrested and then subsequently released. 

I'm afraid that if something isn't done soon regarding bail conditions for repeat offenders, then the crime rate in this country will only continue to rise.

I have much compassion and empathy for my fellow humans, particularly those who are caught up in terrible lifestyles and have been trapped in an endless cycle of addiction. It is a terrible fate. I often give people the benefit of the doubt and, as a pastor, I want to always err on the side of grace and show mercy. I want to take into account a person's upbringing, how it shaped them and led them to make the choices they have made (sometimes through no fault of their own). 

But there comes a time when someone who has continuously made wrong choices that hurt and harm others needs to be held accountable.

I recognize that violent, repeat offenders rarely start out that way, and this issue isn't as simple as "jail, not bail" across the board. However, my experiences with the crime on our street have led me to believe that the current system isn't working.

Actions have consequences — or at least, they should. I'm reminded of the tragic death of Tori Dunn, a young woman from Surrey, B.C., last year at the hands of a repeat, violent offender. The man was released on bail back into the community days before he took the opportunity to take her life. 

Premiers across the country have called upon the federal government to review the current bail system. Despite the earlier reform, there are still gaps in the law that need to be addressed.   

In my neighbourhood, there have been multiple police press releases and news articles about this one drug house alone. It seems that the RCMP have their hands tied, and my heart goes out to them — to see the same handful of people continue to re-offend knowing that they will be let out on bail to continue their erratic behaviour. 

When it comes time to vote in this federal election, I will be looking for a political party that is willing to tackle this issue of bail reform in order to make our country, our cities and our neighbourhoods safer.

I don't want anyone else to have to console their child from night terrors due to the actions of others as I've had to. 

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