NCJ Number
87777
Date Published
1982
Length
59 pages
Annotation
Following an overview of Canada's corrections system, attention is given to prison industries, remands and pretrial services, the status of prison officers and human rights, prisoners' exchange arrangements, drug-abusing inmates, and accreditation and international status.
Abstract
A 1981-82 budget of $32,581,576 was allotted for work programs in agri-business, industries, education and training, automated document processing, and work opportunities. About 44 percent of the inmate population is employed in full-time work in the industrial sphere (education included) and 5 percent part-time. Of the 23,000 imprisoned in Canada on a given day, 13 percent or 3,100 are on remand. In recent years, the size of the remand population in provincial jails and detention centers has been a major concern. A significant proportion of this population is composed of persons not charged with serious crimes. Efforts to reduce the number of persons in detention have included the more thorough investigation of arrestees' backgrounds to identify factors related to dangerousness and nonappearance, supervision in the community prior to trial, and the proposed use of bail hostels. In the area of human rights in prisons, the current inmate grievance procedure uses a conciliation-arbitration model that involves the participation of inmates, staff, and review by private citizens to resolve conflict. Both management and the correctional officer union attempt to make the work environment as safe as possible for officers while providing entitlements in case of injury on the job. With respect to prisoner exchange, treaties ratified by participating governments provide for the transfer of Canadian and foreign offenders subject to supervision either in confinement, parole, or probation. Problem areas for drug-abusing inmates include illicit drug trafficking in prisons, fueled largely by the entry of drugs into prison via visitors, inmates returning from temporary leave, and staff members. The Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners are largely adhered to in spirit if not to the letter by most correctional systems in Canada. Documents are provided which pertain to human rights in prisons and minimum standards for inmate treatment. Extensive tabular data are provided.