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The head of Canada's prison system says there will be "major construction initiatives" in the coming years to cope with federal legislation to imprison more offenders longer -- an assertion backed by new spending estimates showing a 43% increase in penitentiary capital costs next year. Don Head, commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada, set the stage for prison expansion in a recent email obtained by Canwest News Service. In a brief note to staff sent on Dec. 23, Mr. Head announced changes to the senior ranks of the prison system "to best prepare itself to implement many of the changes associated with several of the pieces of legislation that will result in a growth of our inmate population." The government has previously said it is only contemplating expanding existing facilities or building more prisons to handle an anticipated influx of federal offenders. "Any conversation before has been general musing," said Liberal public safety critic Mark Holland. "What this says to me is that they know what they are doing, they know what they are building -- they are just refusing to let it go public." Critics have questioned the need for a prison-building boom in times of fiscal restraint and declining crime rates, particularly when they say there is no evidence that longer sentences work in cutting crime. "This is basically pouring money down a rat hole," said Craig Jones, executive director of the John Howard Society. He predicted the prison service is on the verge of becoming "the largest building contractor in Canada." Government spending estimates, released last week, show the prison system's tab for capital expenditures for the coming fiscal year will increase 43%, to $329.4-million in 2010-2011, from $230.8-million in 2009-2010. Mr. Head's email does not specify whether the federal construction initiatives mean building more prisons or expanding existing ones. But Christine Cversko, a spokeswoman for Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, said there are no plans to build new prisons, and that the money will be spent on "updating and improving" existing facilities. "Our government is making decisions based on what we need to do in order to make our communities safe," she said in an email. "Releasing criminals onto our streets early has a much higher cost than keeping criminals behind bars." The Harper government has refused to divulge a total tab for its initiatives to imprison more offenders, citing cabinet confidences. The government has proposed or passed several pieces of legislation that would impose mandatory minimum jail terms for a variety of crimes. |
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We are careful not to duplicate the efforts of other organizations, and as a grassroots coalition of prisoners and social reformers, our resources (time and money) are limited. The vast expertise and scope of the various drug reform organizations will enable you to stay informed on the ever-changing, many-faceted aspects of the movement. Our colleagues in reform also give the latest drug war news. Please check their websites often. |
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