From the MERC Team:

OTTAWA — Canada’s prison system must do more to trim operating costs and clip a ballooning staff overtime bill, according to a committee of MPs. In a report released today, the Commons public accounts committee called it “troubling” that Correctional Service of Canada has not paid proper attention to finding ways to cut costs for food, clothing and uniforms. Following on the findings of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, the committee recommended CSC explore opportunities for “economies of scale” in bulk buying. It also requested CSC improve management of staff overtime costs, which have “substantially exceeded” budgeted amounts for six years running. “The OAG’s finding that CSC had not given sufficient analysis and attention to economy and efficiency in managing its operations is troubling, especially in light of CSC’s statement that it could no longer reallocate resources to meet its challenges,” concluded the report from the committee chaired by Liberal MP Shawn Murphy. But the committee also noted it is “encouraged” by CSC’s response and pledge to act on recommendations. Commissioner Don Head had told the committee CSC is committed to finding efficiencies and found the AG’s report “extremely useful” in pointing to areas that need more attention. The committee has asked for a status report by April 2010 detailing progress on the auditor general’s recommendations. CSC is responsible for the custody and care of 14,000 men and 500 women in 58 institutions and 16 community correctional centres across Canada. In 2007-2008, CSC’s budget was $1.87 billion, including $570 million on guarding prisoners and $72 million on food, cleaning and clothing.

Prisons must do more for the mentally ill: minister
By Jim Bronskill
OTTAWA — The federal public safety minister says the woeful treatment of the mentally ill is "one of the greatest failings of society today." At a two-day gathering of correctional and health officials in Ottawa, Peter Van Loan said the prison system must do more to help offenders with mental problems. The provinces must also "step up to the plate" and provide more community services, Van Loan said Monday. "How we treat our mentally ill goes to the very heart of what this country is all about and the values of compassion, sympathy and caring."Van Loan said the problem grew after large institutions closed their doors in the 1970s and '80s to allow people with mental issues to live in the community. "All of that looked good on paper."But the needed support services never materialized, leaving the afflicted to wander the streets or wind up in jail. Closing institutions became "a way to save on spiralling health care costs" rather than to help those with serious mental illnesses get the care they need in the community, he said. Van Loan called the recently established Canadian Mental Health Commission an important step forward. It is working toward a national strategy, conducting a campaign to destigmatize mental illness and building an online information centre. But Van Loan said the commission must have allies. "We need to use provincial forums as well as other venues to try and put a little bit more pressure on other parts of the system, such as provincial governments, to step up to the plate in terms of providing services in the community and reforming how people with serious mental illnesses are dealt with by the provincial corrections systems." He said the federal correctional service needs to improve on changes already under way to better assist offenders with mental illness upon their arrival in prison, during their incarceration and after their release. "We've made some progress in each of these areas over the last few years but we can and must do more. "The best way is to get everybody around a table accepting it's a problem. I think it's only going to really happen when the political pressure is there because of public attention." Correctional service commissioner Don Head said he remembered the days when mental health problems were rarely discussed. "As time went on it became quite evident to us that we had more of a challenge within corrections than we would have ever thought." Van Loan said the mentally ill are not receiving enough treatment within the prison system. One reason is the correctional service has had difficulty attracting psychologists and other qualified personnel. The prison service has regional treatment centres that focus on the most seriously ill offenders, but those with less severe problems - who might benefit the most - don't get adequate help, he said. Van Loan noted there are several examples of programs that actually work. However, they almost all remain pilot programs or operate only in pockets of the country. For instance, in Ontario, there are special mental health courts where offenders can be tried in Toronto and Ottawa, but not elsewhere in the province. Van Loan, who has spoken often on the subject, said the mental illness file rarely grabs media headlines. "And that's too bad because this is a question that really matters," he said. "It's not a partisan issue. It's not an opportunity for political gain. It just simply matters."

By Sue Bailey – 56 minutes ago
OTTAWA — The Harper government says it wants to increase victims' rights while getting tougher with inmates who break prison rules or violate parole conditions.
But critics say the latest move in the Tory law-and-order agenda would actually increase public risk in the long run.
Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan said legislation proposed Tuesday would offer victims more information about inmate parole and rehabilitation.
If passed, the changes would also create new penalties for inmates who throw urine at guards or act out in other ways.
Police could also immediately arrest without a warrant any offender suspected of breaching release conditions.
Adam Boni of the Criminal Lawyers' Association warned the move would increase pressure on overstretched prisons that are already struggling to rehabilitate inmates.
"This government says society is safer as long as we can keep them locked up for as long as possible. In fact, what this approach does is create a powder keg in the federal penitentiary system.
"What it means is more over-crowding, more expense, less programs, less meaningful treatment. When these people are ultimately released ... they're going to be less equipped and less rehabilitated than they need to be. And we all suffer as a society."
Van Loan stressed that Ottawa has committed $479 million over five years to "set the foundation to strengthen the federal correctional system."
The federal government now spends more than $2 billion a year to oversee 13,500 inmates in 58 institutions. Another 8,000 prisoners are under varying degrees of supervision on the outside.
The majority, including sex offenders, never fully complete rehabilitation programs because of long waiting lists and frequent transfers, correctional investigator Howard Sapers told the Commons public safety committee this month.
However, inmates are routinely assessed upon arrival for mental health issues, Van Loan said. And programs to battle drug and alcohol abuse are being offered in the first 90 days of incarceration where none used to exist.
The minister conceded "there are real challenges" - including a chronic lack of psychologists and other specialists in prisons. Hiring and retention are ongoing issues in corrections as in the mainstream health system.
Sapers says many offenders are released without ever receiving recommended treatment due to lack of staff and resources.
Criminologists said Tory plans to curtail house arrest just as they increase minimum mandatory sentences for various crimes will only lock up more people with little or no effect on crime rates.
Van Loan has championed that approach and said there's more to come.
"We have a long-term commitment to work toward earned parole to replace statutory release," he said.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has repeatedly promised to scrap the automatic release of prisoners after serving two-thirds of their sentence in favour of "earned parole for behaviour and rehabilitation in prison."
Such a move is expected to vastly increase the amount of costly prison space needed.
Other changes proposed Tuesday to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act include:
-Informing victims about the reasons for offender transfers and giving advance notice where possible .
-Informing victims about inmate program participation and any serious discipline issues.
-Sharing the reasons for a temporary leave from a prison.
-Requiring inmates to respect other people and property; obey all penitentiary rules and conditions governing release; and actively participate in fulfilling their rehabilitation plan.
-Enshrining in law a victim's already existing right to participate in parole board hearings.
-Emphasizing the importance of considering the seriousness of a crime in National Parole Board decision-making.
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