The federal government will consider changes to how the courts deal with people found not criminally responsible for offences because of mental illness.

At an event in Port Coquitlam, Heritage Minister and local MP James Moore says at the heart of the new legislation, to be tabled next year, is to protect victim families from ever coming in contact with the offenders.

He would not confirm whether the time between reviews for their possible release into the community would be increased from one to three years, but says the concerns of victim families have been heard.

Stacy Galt, who speaks for the mother of three children killed by their father, Allan Schoenborn, back in Merritt in 2008, says she would be happy with three years, but would prefer five.