Joan Laurie | EDMONTON JOURNAL | LETTERS, Page: A15
'Let's invest in people, not prisons'
The federal government's tough on crime position seems to fly in the face of all the information available on effective management of criminals and prison systems. Most of our government's proposed strategies have been tried in the United States, where they have increased costs significantly, with a disproportionate decrease in crime.
Keeping offenders in prison longer, double-bunked, and with little access to rehabilitation will almost certainly cost all of us more money, and is unlikely to help prisoners learn how to contribute to society once they are released.
Yet Public Safety Minister Vic Toews says, "Our government is prepared to pay the cost to keep dangerous offenders in prison."
This is not the government's money: it's our money.
I would rather invest our tax dollars to support people in need, to prevent crime from happening, than to spend much more money building new prisons and dealing with the aftermath of people turning to crime because of a lack of social services before, during and after their incarceration.
Do we want more prisons? Or do we want more affordable housing, early childhood programs, and more help for people wrestling with addictions or chronic health issues.
Let's invest in people, not prisons.
-Joan Laurie, Spruce Grove
'Let's invest in people, not prisons'
The federal government's tough on crime position seems to fly in the face of all the information available on effective management of criminals and prison systems. Most of our government's proposed strategies have been tried in the United States, where they have increased costs significantly, with a disproportionate decrease in crime.
Keeping offenders in prison longer, double-bunked, and with little access to rehabilitation will almost certainly cost all of us more money, and is unlikely to help prisoners learn how to contribute to society once they are released.
Yet Public Safety Minister Vic Toews says, "Our government is prepared to pay the cost to keep dangerous offenders in prison."
This is not the government's money: it's our money.
I would rather invest our tax dollars to support people in need, to prevent crime from happening, than to spend much more money building new prisons and dealing with the aftermath of people turning to crime because of a lack of social services before, during and after their incarceration.
Do we want more prisons? Or do we want more affordable housing, early childhood programs, and more help for people wrestling with addictions or chronic health issues.
Let's invest in people, not prisons.
-Joan Laurie, Spruce Grove
For more information contact:
Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
151 Slater Street, #701
Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5H3
Phone: 613-238-2422
Email: caefs@web.ca
On the web: http://www.elizabethfry.ca/
Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
151 Slater Street, #701
Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5H3
Phone: 613-238-2422
Email: caefs@web.ca
On the web: http://www.elizabethfry.ca/
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