Correctional Centre a “Warehouse”: Judge
Monday, January 10, 2011 at 15:28
The Prince Albert Correctional Centre is being called little more than a “warehouse” for inmates by a provincial court judge.
In a written ruling last week, Justice R.D. Maher says he’s not sure what’s being done to rehabilitate prisoners at the jail before they’re released into society.
In the judgment, which is contained in a sentence handed down to a man convicted of impaired driving causing death, Maher notes there are no longer any mental health services for inmates at the Prince Albert institution.
In the judgement, he writes, “From the information I have received, the Prince Albert Correctional Centre now offers little assistance to inmates for them to be rehabilitated as provided in section 718 D of the Criminal Code to assist their return to the community as productive and law-abiding citizens.”
Meanwhile, a director with the Ministry of Corrections is responding to the statement.
Judy Orthner says the Prince Albert Correctional Centre may not have mental health services but offenders can be sent to outside providers if there is a court order.
She also says there are programs available to inmates that include learning how to write a resume, job readiness, anger management and dealing substance abuse.
She says Elders are also available for the inmates to talk to.
Orthner says part of the difficulty is dealing with the rising number of inmates that are coming into correctional institutions on an annual basis.
She says inmate counts are growing by 2 percent each year.