Pubdate: Fri, 02 Sep 2011 Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN) Copyright: 2011 The StarPhoenix Contact: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400 Author: Ailsa M. Watkinson, The StarPhoenix OMNIBUS BILL'S RESULTS OMINOUS Watkinson is chair of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan and a professor in the faculty of social work at the Saskatoon campus of the University of Regina. In the article, Sask jails 'recipe for disaster' (SP, Aug. 22), Corrections Minister Yogi Huyghebaert affirmed his support for the federal government's law and order agenda and said he is not concerned with the influx of prisoners into provincial jails from a deluge of new federal legislation intended to imprison more people. At the same time, Hughebaert acknowledged the use of increased incarceration is a problem since there is scant evidence as to its effectiveness and, besides, the crime rates were in decline prior to the federal government's "law and order" push. How is it possible for anyone to support the federal government's increased use of incarceration to the point where the crowded conditions are a "recipe for disaster," even as crime rates continue their 20-year decline and evidence shows incarceration is not an effective way either to deter crime or rehabilitate those convicted? Since taking office in 2006, the Conservative government in Ottawa has introduced more than 30 pieces of legislation that have increased the rates of incarceration and the length of prison sentences. It has done this by increasing the use of mandatory minimum sentences, reducing options for community-based sentences such as house arrest, and by eliminating early release options. The Truth in Sentencing Act, just one piece of legislation already passed, is projected to increase prison costs by $7 billion to $10 billion. The budget for Corrections Services Canada has increased by 87 per cent since 2007, and is estimated to increase 100 per cent by 2013-14. Imprisonment has become an industry. And as more and more people are incarcerated and the cost of imprisonment rises, we see other public services reduced to cover the costs. For example, there have been cuts to Environment Canada and Public Works, and inadequate funding for housing, health and education. But it's not finished. Prime Minister Stephen Harper plans to introduce an omnibus bill this fall. It should be called the ominous bill, because it promises harmful consequences. The proposed bill is made up of 11 pieces of legislation that his government could not get through in previous parliamentary sittings. It has been described as having a "jail intensive emphasis." The omnibus bill includes the former Bill C-4, which will increase imprisonment for youth by expanding the list of crimes for which they can be incarcerated - a move that ignores our understanding of youth cognitive and moral development, as well as our commitment to decrease youth incarceration. It will also include the former Bill S-10, which will again increase the use of mandatory minimum sentences for those convicted of certain drug crimes. When Bill S-10 was introduced last winter, there was a massive outcry from medical personnel, academics and community-based organizations, which all called for a public health approach to dealing with drug use. The United States incarcerates more of its citizens per capita than any other county and it appears our federal government is emulating its practices. It's a sad irony that we are being taken down the failed American path when the U.S., in fact, is currently doing away with mandatory minimum sentences and considering alternatives such as redirecting non-violent prisoners toward other options than prison. The movement is led by American conservatives including Newt Gingrich. These Republican leaders from across the U.S. have launched a "right on crime" initiative to counter America's history of "tough on crime." The May 26 issue of The Economist noted these reforms are driven by a simple factor: Cost. The reforms are also driven by the U.S. Supreme Court's finding that increasing the prison population and the resultant overcrowding limits the effectiveness of medical and mental health care, raising real fears of prisoner suicide and the lack of proper care. The potential for similar harms was raised by our provincial ombudsman, who reported that overcrowding has the potential to lead to violence, health concerns and a decrease in rehabilitation programming. It is not hard to imagine the potential for violence in a prison system that requires you to share your cramped space with six or more individuals who, like you, have nothing to do because the classrooms and gymnasium have been taken over to accommodate more prisoners. In addition, these pieces of legislation disproportionately affect the poor and members of minority communities. The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan works with and on behalf of criminalized women. The majority of these women and many criminalized men pose no threat to the public. We ask why they are imprisoned at such a devastating cost when other alternatives are available? And why don't our politicians consider the change in direction taken by American leaders and ask the same question? - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.