NCJ Number
61064
Editor(s)
L KOTZ
Date Published
1978
Length
96 pages
Annotation
THE PROBLEMS OF CANADIAN PRISONS ARE EXAMINED IN ARTICLES BY PRISON REFORMERS, ESSAYS AND POEMS OF INMATES AND FORMER PRISONERS, AND PHOTOGRAPHIC ART.
Abstract
THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF INMATES AND THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS WERE TAKEN AT SIX INSTITUTIONS IN MANITOBA, WHILE THE ACCOUNTS OF PRISON LIFE INCLUDE A WIDE RANGE OF EXPERIENCES. THESE REPORTS FROM INMATES, AND MANY PERSONS INVOLVED WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN CANADA FEEL THAT CANADA'S PENAL INSTITUTIONS ARE INEFFECTIVE AND NEED MAJOR REFORM. CANADA RANKS SIXTH IN THE WORLD IN THE NUMBER OF PERSONS INCARCERATED IN JAIL AND 80 PERCENT OF ITS PRISONERS RETURN TO JAIL AFTER THEIR RELEASE. STATISTICAL EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT PRISONS NEITHER REHABILITATE CRIMINALS NOR DETER CRIME, BUT HAVE BECOME A SELF-SERVING INDUSTRY AND A POLITICAL TOOL THAT IS INCREASINGLY EXPENSIVE FOR THE TAXPAYER. THE 1977 PARLIAMENTARY REPORT ON THE PENITENTIARY SYSTEM CRITICIZED THE CRIMINAL CODE FOR EXCESSIVE USE OF INCARCERATION AND SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE PENALTIES SUCH AS RESTITUTION, FINES, AND SUPERVISED COMMUNITY SERVICE. MANY INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BE CLOSED, AND THEIR USE RESTRICTED FOR VIOLENT CRIMINALS. A TECHNIQUE TERMED DIVERSION IS PROPOSED IN WHICH PUNISHMENT FOR A CRIME IS NEGOTIATED BETWEEN THE OFFENDER AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO COURT PROCESSES AND IMPRISONMENT. A PLAN FOR DISMANTLING THE PENITENTIARY SYSTEM AND PLACING MANY OF ITS FUNCTIONS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS DETAILED. GUIDELINES FOR LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL REFORM ARE ALSO GIVEN, SUCH AS ELIMINATION OF INDETERMINATE SENTENCES AND A PAROLE BOARD. PHOTOGRAPHS AND POEMS SUPPLEMENT THE TEXT. THE BOOK INCLUDES A LIST OF MANITOBA PRISONS AND THEIR REGULATIONS, SELECTED RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE REPORT TO PARLIAMENT OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE PENITENTIARY SYSTEM IN CANADA, AND A SECTION ON LEGISLATION CONCERNING PRISONS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY COVERING A WIDE RANGE OF READING MATERIALS IS APPENDED. (MJM)