Alberta's justice minister is promising action over the frustrations expressed by Calgary's police chief that repeat serious criminals walk away with lenient sentences.

Justice Minister Ron Stevens said recommendations by a provincial crime task force are due in a few weeks, and he indicated they will address recent concerns raised by a string of shootings in Calgary.

Justice Minister Ron Stevens says the province is looking into tougher sentences for repeat criminals.
(CBC)

The Crime Reduction and Safe Communities Task Force that was set up earlier this year heard from 1,700 Albertans in 14 communities. Stevens said most participants agreed serious criminals need to spend more time behind bars.

"They're saying the sentences are not appropriate," Stevens said Wednesday at an international crime reduction conference in Banff.

"On the deterrent side, you need to send a message to the people that would do these things that they are going to have to pay for it. A serious crime deserves serious time."

Calgary police Chief Rick Hanson flagged the problem of the "catch and release" of criminals this week after five shootings in four days in the city.

Hanson, who's been on the job for a week, pointed to the extensive criminal records of four people arrested in one shooting as an example of why courts need to hand out longer jail sentences.

Mayor lobbies in Ottawa

Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier took the issue to Ottawa where he's meeting the other mayors of Canada's 22 biggest cities. He received their unanimous support Thursday in lobbying the federal government to reintroduce and pass Bill C-35.

The legislation puts the onus on convicted criminals charged with firearms offences to convince judges why they should be released on bail.

Police respond to a shooting Sunday in Calgary's southeast suburb of McKenzie Lake.
(CBC)

To strengthen their case, Bronconnier also asked his colleagues to gather information about the police resources used to re-arrest offenders who've been released on bail.

"We're not talking about individuals that you know once, twice, three times, we're talking about people with two dozen, three dozen convictions being released, sometimes the same day," he said.

But some experts question whether tougher sentences alone are effective.

"It's really got to be comprehensive," said Jack Calhoun, former president of the National Crime Prevention Council. "The churches have got to play a role, social services, schools, community voice, with enforcement."