Wednesday, June 17, 2009

The Conservatives are proposing changes to the federal corrections system

This would make sense if the prisons actually worked.  The problem, of course, is that prsions, as we have them structured today, do not work;  indeed, that make criminals worse.  Prison reform is expensive; political “law and order” speeches aren’t.

 

By the way, the Federal Prisons hold First Nations men at a rate of 4 ½ times their general population – I wonder what special consideration will be given to trying to rehabilitate persons of that community (to whom the Crown owes special duties)?

 

 

CTV.ca News Staff

Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan introduced the legislative amendments in Parliament Tuesday.

"This Government is taking a new approach to corrections by putting a greater focus on public safety," Van Loan said in a press release.

"We are also putting the rights of victims first, by proposing changes to help keep them better informed."

The proposed key reforms to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act include:

*                         The "protection of society" becoming the paramount principle of corrections and conditional release.

*                         Enshrining in law, a victim's right to participate in parole board hearings.

*                         Authorizing police to arrest without the need for a warrant, an offender breaking their release conditions.

*                         Emphasizing the importance of taking into consideration the seriousness of an offence in National Parole Board decision-making.

Van Loan said the changes are being proposed so that offenders are more accountable for their actions and rehabilitation is more effective.

The changes are in response to a December 2007 report from the Correctional Service Canada Independent Review Panel.

The report found that Canada's prison population is more violent and requires more intervention and rehabilitation strategies than in the past.

In Budget 2008, the government allocated nearly $500 million over five years to create change in the federal correctional system.

 

1 comment:

Gayle said...

Maybe they can explain why they think we need these changes, since the Corrections and Conditional Release Act already says this at sections 3 and 4:

3. The purpose of the federal correctional system is to contribute to the maintenance of a just, peaceful and safe society by

(a) carrying out sentences imposed by courts through the safe and humane custody and supervision of offenders; and

(b) assisting the rehabilitation of offenders and their reintegration into the community as law-abiding citizens through the provision of programs in penitentiaries and in the community.

4. The principles that shall guide the Service in achieving the purpose referred to in section 3 are

(a) that the protection of society be the paramount consideration in the corrections process;

(b) that the sentence be carried out having regard to all relevant available information, including the stated reasons and recommendations of the sentencing judge, other information from the trial or sentencing process, the release policies of, and any comments from, the National Parole Board, and information obtained from victims and offenders;

(c) that the Service enhance its effectiveness and openness through the timely exchange of relevant information with other components of the criminal justice system, and through communication about its correctional policies and programs to offenders, victims and the public;

(d) that the Service use the least restrictive measures consistent with the protection of the public, staff members and offenders;

(e) that offenders retain the rights and privileges of all members of society, except those rights and privileges that are necessarily removed or restricted as a consequence of the sentence;

(f) that the Service facilitate the involvement of members of the public in matters relating to the operations of the Service;

(g) that correctional decisions be made in a forthright and fair manner, with access by the offender to an effective grievance procedure;

(h) that correctional policies, programs and practices respect gender, ethnic, cultural and linguistic differences and be responsive to the special needs of women and aboriginal peoples, as well as to the needs of other groups of offenders with special requirements;

(i) that offenders are expected to obey penitentiary rules and conditions governing temporary absence, work release, parole and statutory release, and to actively participate in programs designed to promote their rehabilitation and reintegration; and

(j) that staff members be properly selected and trained, and be given

(i) appropriate career development opportunities,

(ii) good working conditions, including a workplace environment that is free of practices that undermine a person’s sense of personal dignity, and

(iii) opportunities to participate in the development of correctional policies and programs.