CP Josh Pringle Monday, October 22, 2007
A prison review panel will reportedly endorse a Conservative Government election promise to ensure early release is earned. The Canadian Press reports the panel's report will recommend scrapping the virtually automatic release of federal inmates who've served two-thirds of their sentence. Under the current law, most federal prisoners who don't qualify for parole early are required to serve the last third of their sentences in the community under supervision and conditions. Sources tell The Canadian Press the report will put "some onus back on the offender to want to get out, and to work towards getting out." The report will also call for a multimillion-dollar cash injection into the prison system. Former Ontario Conservative cabinet minister Rob Sampson headed the panel.
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More details at Canadian Press Article excerpt:
An analysis made public earlier this year by the Correctional Service of Canada raised red flags about tightening statutory release. It noted that two-thirds of all federal offenders who left prison in 2004-05 were statutory releases who posed generally few problems. Freedom was revoked in three per cent of cases "for a violent offence," that report said.Early release under conditions allows correctional staff to supervise inmates in the community - a major advantage, the study suggested.Otherwise, inmates held until warrant expiry - the very end of their sentences - would be on their own when set free.Craig Jones, executive director of the John Howard Society, said restricting statutory release is a regressive approach that appeals to get-tough sentiments while actually increasing public risk."Incarceration is just an expensive way to make bad people worse," he said in an interview.
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