Pubdate: Tue, 04 Jul 2006 Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Hacker Press Ltd. Contact: http://www.abbynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155 Author: Trudy Beyak Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?143 (Hepatitis) TAXPAYERS MAY NOT GET STUNG WITH COST OF PRISON TATTOOS Conservatives May Close Prison Tattoo Parlours Taxpayers may be off the hook for prison tattoos. The federal government is looking at turfing the controversial prison tattoo program, according to Randy White, former federal justice critic. He issued a press release and told The Abbotsford News that he has "inside" information the federal government intends to cancel the tattoo pilot project. Six federal institutions in Canada - including Matsqui Institution and the women's prison (Fraser Valley Institution) on King Road - are taking part in the regulated tattoo parlours. The project is estimated to cost $3.7 million over a six-year period and Stockwell Day, Public Safety Minister, is reportedly considering other options. White said he would be happy to see the end of the prison tattoo parlors, saying they came from "a wasteful, useless program in the first place." The other problem, he said, is that taxpayers and the federal government may be legally responsible if inmates contract AIDS or Hep C from these tattoo parlours while in prison. White retired from politics last year and is now the president of the Drug Prevention Network of Canada. Federal prison officials, meanwhile, say they haven't heard anything about stopping the program. Maria Dalziel, assistant warden of Fraser Valley Institution, said inmates are enthusiastic about the tattoo program and they believe it should continue, to prevent the transmission of diseases. The purpose of the project, according to Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), is to reduce the rate of infectious diseases in prisons in a safe and supervised setting. About 35 per cent of approximately 2,000 incarcerated offenders in the Pacific Region (B.C.) have Hepatitis C. The reality, says CSC, is that offenders are doing tattoos illegally in prisons using crude sharp objects and sharing used needles. The goal is to cut down the amount of illicit tattoo activities in prisons where almost half of the prisoners in Canada are involved with the "body art." A sticking point for White, however, is that taxpayers are subsidizing prison tattoos, which he said only cost inmates $5 each. White said CSC should make it a priority to encourage removing tattoos from offenders, because future employers are leery hiring people with offensive tattoos. He took prisons authorities to task. It's important that the prison system bring back proven drug programs related to treatment, prevention and enforcement, rather than getting into the tattoo business, White said. Randie Scott, Matsqui Institution assistant warden, said he has not heard a word about the project possibly being cancelled. In fact, the program, which started in Matsqui last August, is going well, Scott said, adding that he believes it is having positive benefits. The project is to be evaluated this fall after operating for one year. Guards think it's ridiculous. John Williams, president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, Pacific Region, said guards are against giving tattoos to prisoners. "It's a total waste of taxpayers' money and they aren't stopping illegal tattooing, anyhow," Williams said. "All it does is give the inmates more access to needles, and you can't tell me that some of those needles aren't going missing." White said the federal government is on track putting together a new national drug strategy, which will get rid of unsuccessful, expensive programs that harm the positive programs of education, prevention and treatment. "Let's come to grips with real harm reduction," White said. "It's about time people are helped out of their drug addictions, instead of helping them to maintain their habit,' White said. He said CSC continues to ignore the fear of guards that inmates may hide the needles and use them as weapons. About 3,000 offenders are diagnosed with Hepatitis C in federal institutions across Canada which is 30 times the rate of the general population. Several hundred offenders in Canada are also diagnosed with HIV. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman