NCJ Number
63522
Date Published
1978
Length
200 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE REPORTED FROM A CANADIAN ROYAL COMMISSION'S INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED BRUTALITY AND GENERAL CONDITIONS AT THE TORONTO JAIL.
Abstract
TESTIMONY WAS TAKEN REGARDING SPECIFIC INSTANCES OF ALLEGED MISTREATMENT OF INMATES BY CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, AND ON-SITE INVESTIGATIONS WERE CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES AT THE JAIL. OTHER JAILS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY WERE VISITED FOR COMPARISONS WITH THE TORONTO JAIL. ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS OF ASSAULTS WERE PROVEN, THE MAJORITY OF THE CORRECTIONS STAFF WAS FOUND TO BE DOING A COMMENDABLE JOB. THE STATUS OF YOUNG OFFENDERS, SEX OFFENDERS, AND FEMALE OFFENDERS WAS OBSERVED, ALONG WITH ATTITUDES OF CORRECTIONAL STAFF AND OFFICERS. MEDICAL SERVICES AVAILABLE, THE EXTENT OF DRUGS AND CONTRABAND IN THE JAIL, AND OTHER ISSUES. BASED ON ITS FINDINGS, THE COMMISSION AFFIRMED THAT THE BASIC FUNCTION OF THE TORONTO JAIL WAS TO DETAIN THOSE INDIVIDUALS AWAITING TRIAL AND TRANSFER TO OTHER INSTITUTIONS, AS WELL AS OTHERS SERVING SHORT SENTENCES. THE COMMISSION CONCLUDES, HOWEVER, THAT MANY ARE BEING DETAINED UNNECESSARILY, KEEPING THEM FROM FULFILLING FAMILY AND EMPLOYMENT RESPONSIBILITIES. DIVERSION IS RECOMMENDED FOR THOSE CAPABLE OF FUNCTIONING NORMALLY IN THE COMMUNITY. MOREOVER, THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR INFLUENCING THE JAIL'S OPERATION IS BELIEVED TO BE THE ATTITUDE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC TOWARD CORRECTIONS, SINCE THIS AFFECTS THE ATTITUDE OF THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER, WHICH, IN TURN, INFLUENCES THE CONDUCT OF INMATES. THEREFORE, THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JAIL COUNCIL COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY. THE COUNCIL WOULD PROVIDE PRACTICAL SUPPORT TO BOTH INMATES AND CORRECTIONAL STAFF. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DETAILED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (RCB)