The Consequences of a Weak Bail System: Public Safety, Recidivism, and The Need For Accountability

The recent shooting of a Toronto police officer by an individual out on bail has reignited public concern over Canada’s bail system.

A 21-year-old man, Tibor Orgona, was charged with attempted murder after allegedly shooting Const. Tate Davoudy, a five-year veteran of the force, during a robbery investigation near Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue. The incident unfolded as officers were approached by two individuals, one of whom allegedly opened fire, striking Davoudy in the abdomen before fleeing the scene.

Davoudy was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries but was released the following day to recover at home. Orgona, who was on bail at the time, now faces more than a dozen charges, including attempted murder. Two other individuals were also arrested and face robbery-related charges. This incident, emblematic of the failures of Canada’s bail system, has amplified calls for reform.


A system designed to address racial disparities and systemic injustices has swung the pendulum too far toward leniency. The result? An unintended surge in violent crime, leaving marginalized communities—ironically, the very people these reforms were meant to help—grappling with heightened fear, loss, and turmoil.


At the Oaks Revitalization Association (ORA), we work to help justice-involved individuals reintegrate into society. But the current bail system undermines this mission by enabling cycles of violence and retaliation. Early release, fuelled by social media posturing and the glamorization of violence, has turned neighbourhoods like Toronto’s Rexdale, Lawrence Highest, and Jane & Finch into war zones. These communities bear the brunt of this well-intentioned yet deeply flawed policy.

The Results of Our Current Bail System

Despite its good intentions, Canada’s current bail system has proven counterproductive. The data tells a concerning story:

A person assaulting another person on the ground.

Violence on the Rise

From 2017 to 2021, there was a 19% increase in violent crimes committed by individuals out on bail. In Toronto, over 70% of  gun-related homicides in 2023 involved individuals on bail  or with prior convictions.
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Community Impact

Marginalized communities, forced to live amidst violent strife and retaliation, are the most affected. Early-release offenders bring chaos and danger back to these neighbourhoods, intensifying cycles of violence.

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A silhouette of a criminal running with a cross in the background.

Repeat Offenses

Studies reveal that 40% of individuals on bail for serious offences are  rearrested within a year.

These results make it clear that lenient bail policies are not only failing to reduce harm but are actively endangering the very communities they were designed to protect.

The Importance of Consequences


For rehabilitation programs to be successful, the  justice system must support them by enforcing meaningful consequences for non-compliance. A lax bail system does more than endanger the public—it sends the wrong message to individuals seeking rehabilitation.


Without accountability, justice-involved individuals are less likely to engage in the discipline and effort required to change their lives. The absence of a strong legal framework that emphasizes consequences undermines the work of organizations like the ORA. If individuals believe they can avoid repercussions, they lack the motivation to embrace the structure and growth necessary for transformation.


A robust justice system centred on accountability, is essential—not just for public safety but to empower rehabilitation programs to succeed.

Policy Disconnect and Public Frustration

In marginalized communities like Jane and Finch, there is growing frustration, not just with policymakers, but with courts, judges, and a bail system that seems to deliberately send violent offenders back into their neighbourhoods. Residents question how a system meant to protect can so consistently fail them, leaving them trapped in cycles of violence and retaliation.


Parents and families see early-release offenders return to the very streets where they committed their crimes, escalating tensions and spreading fear. They challenge policymakers, judges, and activists alike to come and spend a night—or even a week—living in their neighbourhoods.


Adding to the frustration is the stark contrast in how resources are allocated. Illegal marches for foreign causes are often protected by dozens of police officers, while these same communities are left under-policed. With only four officers patrolling entire divisions at night, residents feel abandoned, even as protesters in other parts of the city enjoy police protection. To many, the message is clear: the only “defending” being done is against their own survival.


This sense of abandonment and betrayal runs deep. Residents feel as though their lives and their children’s futures are being sacrificed, caught between performative activism and a justice system that fails to prioritize their safety. Until policymakers, activists, and the broader society listen and act, this contempt will only continue to grow.

The legislative

Several key bills have shaped Canada’s current bail system, including:

Bill C-75 (2019)

Introduced measures to streamline bail hearings and reduce pre-trial detention, focusing on addressing systemic racism and the over representation of marginalized groups in the justice system. While well-intentioned, this bill has been widely criticized for enabling the release of repeat and violent offenders.

Bill C-48 (2023)

Recently passed to tighten bail conditions for certain violent offences, this bill represents a step in the right direction but falls short of addressing the systemic issues created by earlier reforms.

Despite these efforts, the system remains insufficiently equipped to balance fairness with public safety, leaving vulnerable communities to bear the brunt of policy failures. 

ORA’s Position: Balancing Rehabilitation and Accountability

At the ORA, we believe in second chances—but second chances must be earned through accountability and discipline. Our Skilled Trades Development Program (STDP) has shown that structured programs emphasizing consequences, mentorship, and personal responsibility are far more effective than leniency in reducing recidivism.

Programs that promote discipline and accountability have demonstrated up to a 25% reduction in recidivism rates. The ORA’s own results highlight the power of combining structure, mentorship, and tough but fair rules to empower individuals to change their lives.

However, these efforts require support from a justice system that enforces strong bail conditions and prioritizes public safety. Without this foundation, rehabilitation programs like ours face an uphill
battle against cycles of crime and despair.


The current bail system has failed to protect marginalized communities, leaving them to grapple with the consequences of lenient policies. It is time for policymakers to listen to the voices of those most affected by these failures and recalibrate
their approach to prioritize public safety.


Bail reform must strike a balance between fairness and accountability, ensuring that communities are not left to endure the violence and misery brought by repeat offenders. For the sake of the lives at stake, we must end the cycle of leniency and restore the discipline
and structure needed to create safer neighbourhoods and a more just society.

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