Pubdate: Thu, 18 Jun 2009
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2009 The Ottawa Citizen
Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Emile Therien

FIX PRISON SHORTAGES BEFORE ADDING TO THEM

Re: Tories propose paying prisoners to reform, June 17. Before Public 
Safety Minister Peter Van Loan embarks on this "reward-for-rehab 
plan," he should familiarize himself with the recent report of the 
federal correctional investigator which says program shortages in the 
prison system are so severe they have become a threat to public 
safety: "Too many offenders spend their time in prison without 
getting the correctional programs they need," the report says.

"The result is ongoing violence and despair on the inside and 
increased risk of offending once released."

First things first, Mr. Minister. Fix this problem which is, needless 
to say, another black mark on Canada's increasingly flawed criminal 
justice system.

Emile Therien,

Ottawa
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart