Pubdate: Wed, 12 Mar 2003
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 The Vancouver Sun
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Julia Necheff
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)
Author: Julia Necheff, Canadian Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)

ALTA.  BILL  AIMED  AT  CRACKING DOWN ON DRUG USE, GANGS IN PROVINCIAL JAILS

EDMONTON  (CP)  - Alberta jails, reputed to be the toughest in Canada, 
will  continue  to  lead  the  way  in corrections by making them even 
tougher, says the province's solicitor general.

On  Wednesday,  Heather  Forsyth introduced Bill 26, amendments to the 
Corrections  Act  that  will  allow  random drug testing in provincial 
jails  and  deny  early  release  to troublemakers. There will be zero 
tolerance  of  drug  use,  gangs,  possessing  or  using  a weapon, or 
threatening correctional staff or visitors, Forsyth said.

As  for  early  release,  there won't be any more Get Out of Jail Free 
cards for Alberta prisoners, the government says.

Offenders  will  have  to  earn  their  early  release,  called  early 
remission,  through "positive behaviour," not just by staying in jail, 
Forsyth said.

Currently,  offenders  only serve one-third of their sentence in jail, she 
noted. "If an offender breaks some of the laws that we're speaking about, 
they will go before a disciplinary board and will lose days off of their 
earned remission.

"They  can  also  be  punished  in  other  ways.  They  can  lose some 
privileges they currently get in the facilities."

Internal  disciplinary  hearings will be required if rules are broken, 
whether or not criminal charges are laid. The disciplinary boards will be 
compelled to consider denying inmates early release.

Currently,  offenders  are  only  tested  when it's suspected they are 
using  drugs. Routine random testing will help deter illicit drug use, 
Forsyth says.

The  province  runs  nine  correctional  facilities. Observers suggest 
Alberta is already the toughest place to do time in a provincial jail, an 
assessment Forsyth agreed with Wednesday.

But  Liberal justice critic Laurie Blakeman said the solicitor general 
isn't getting at the heart of the problem of addictions.

"I  think it's fabulously naive to think that they're going to be able to 
stop drugs from going into prisons. If people are addicted, they'll do 
anything to get hold of those drugs," Blakeman said.

Maureen  Collins  of  the  Edmonton  John  Howard  Society agreed it's 
important  to  deal  with drugs in the jails. "When there is excessive 
drug  use  or  drugs are readily coming into an institution it creates 
tensions.  It  results  in muscling between inmates and those kinds of things."

But  Collins  says  the tough approach won't be much of a deterrent to 
most  inmates.  She  also  said Bill 26 doesn't do enough to treat the 
drug  and  alcohol  problems  that may have got them in trouble in the 
first place.

"You  can  catch people through random tests, but nothing will change. 
You  may  put  them  in segregation or take off earned remission . . . 
keep  them  in  jail a few weeks, a few months longer but it isn't the answer."

The  head of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, which includes 
jail  guards, welcomed some of the bill's provisions, including random drug 
testing and zero tolerance on gangs.

However,  Dan  MacLennan said the bill won't ease the overcrowding and 
understaffing problems the union has long complained of.

Wednesday's  bill  is  the  latest  get-tough measure from the Alberta 
government.

In the 1990s, it took away privileges including pool tables and colour 
televisions  purchased  by  inmates.  It  replaced the colour TVs with 
black-and-white  sets.  Last  year,  a  government  MLA  suggested the 
province should take away inmates' TV sets altogether.

The  province removed meat from some jail meals several years ago, and 
refused  to  pay  for  underwear  and  socks, doling out coveralls and 
leaving the rest to prisoners.

In  1996  a  former  justice minister tried unsuccessfully to bring in 
chain  gangs,  shackling prisoners in work crews. The idea was quashed by 
the Tory caucus at the time.

A  government review has recommended that smoking be completely banned in 
the jails, a move backed by the provincial union for health reasons 
even  though  it  acknowledges  inmates will likely react violently to such 
a move. It also recommended inmates be charged room and board.

Forsyth  said  Wednesday  they  are  working  toward  implementing the 
smoking ban.
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