The Government of British Columbia is working to stop people who have been convicted of serious crimes from profiting on them after the fact.

Murderers and other serious criminals, like B.C.'s own Robert Pickton, would no longer be able to make money through memoirs or memorabilia, thanks to proposed legislation introduced on Thursday.

If passed, the Profits of Criminal Notoriety Act will stop criminals benefitting from their stories in any written or broadcast form, or from memorabilia related to their crimes, which the provincial government says inflicts continued pain on their victims and families, 

Photo Credit: Amazon.Convicted serial killer Robert Pickton was selling his story online in February.

"Convicted criminals should not profit from re-telling their crimes,” said Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton. “Not only does it re-victimize, it is contrary to the fundamental principles of our society's values.”

Any money they make would instead have to be paid to the Province for redistribution to victims or their families, with what’s left over going to support victim services.

The proposed legislation will require that all sides involved enter into a verbal or written contract for recounting of a notorious crime and notify government about its terms. It would prohibit people from giving or getting money for recounting of a notorious crime. It would allow the government to apply to court to take the money made in this was and prevent offenders from assigning rights to another person, like a spouse, friend or relative.

The act will apply to criminals convicted of serious or violent crimes, such as murder, sexual offences, child exploitation, kidnapping, drug trafficking and human trafficking.

It would also apply to past contracts signed any time after Jan. 1, 2001.

For constitutional reasons, the act cannot ban a criminal from telling their stories, so it only focuses on preventing financial gain.

The new legislation follows news earlier in the year that B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton had published a book, which was being sold on Amazon in February.

Photo Credit: Pickton farm.Photo Credit: Wiki Commons.

People were so upset at the time that Amazon ended up removing the book the same day.

"The day I first learned of the Pickton book, I was determined no one would make a nickel from Robert Pickton's crimes,” said Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Morris. “This legislation is a swift, thorough response to that book.

“We have derailed any plans to profit from it. The act will also help ensure no other notorious or violent criminals can profit from the hurt they have caused."

Carolyn Sinclair, executive director, Police Victims Services of British Columbia, said while people may wonder about crimes, there are drastic repercussions.

"When there is an appetite for one side of a sad story told from an offender's perspective, the victims and those impacted are often re-victimized, both by what the offender has to say and the public's curiosity,” said Sinclair. “Those who have caused harm and are paying for their crimes should not be permitted to profit financially or emotionally from the trauma they have created."

Photo Credit: One of Pickton's victims, Stephanie Lane.

Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia already have similar laws in place to the one proposed.

Saskatchewan's Profits of Criminal Notoriety Act was put in seven years ago as a response to convicted wife-killer Colin Thatcher's plan to write a book. The act has since withstood a court challenge.

B.C.’s proposed act will apply to crimes with a substantial B.C. connection, such as the crime that happened in the province or if the criminal is serving a custodial sentence in the province.