Invitation to Get Involved – March 13, 2008

Prisons in Canada are changing. The changes are at times almost overwhelming.

Public attitudes toward crime is changing also. There is a growing idea that to deal with these bad people – you need only to lock them up in prison and everything will be okay. If they are really bad people, in our eyes and the eyes of the media – LOCK THEM UP LONGER…but Lock Up Everyone.

Politicians that have a strong say in what takes place during their time in office – but may not always understand. What they are primarily interested in is the public’s attitude and reaction. If they weren’t – they would not be good at what they do as politicians (but that is another discussion).

Questions for you…
Have you ever wished that someone would listen to your opinion?
Have you been bothered by something that is happening in an area of the community that seems to be impossible – or everything is all ‘not right’…or the way that you think it should be.

That is kind of the way that I felt a few years ago when someone told me what was happening in our community. The issue was how one man was being dealt with when he came out of prison.

That was the main reason, I think, that drew me into working more closely with the actual men that faced the new life on the outside of prison.

Unlike other posts on this Blog, that many just read and move on – this one is designed differently. Let me explain. I need your input.

In one of the community volunteer positions that I help in is the CAC of the Peterborough Parole Office. CAC stands for “Citizen Advisory Committee” and works closely with the CSC – “Correctional Service of Canada” – the Federal Prison System. I am the ‘Chair” for our CAC.

Today I invite you to read two documents posted on the Internet by CSC. Then after reading them I invite you to reflect on what is printed and then send your comments to me – directly – to opinionsaboutprison@gmail.com

Your comments will become a valuable part of a National Conference (March 28 - 30 2008)dealing with and discussing the issues in these documents. CSC has invited me and other CAC members to ask for help and opinions on the possible changes that are being considered in the handling of ex-offenders, men and women in and out of prison.

About a year ago a special panel was formed to look at all aspects of the way that Canada handles its offenders in the community and in the prison system. Though a man is placed in prison he is still part of our community – and how we handle all aspects of his imprisonment and release from prison is EVERYONE’S CONCERN.

CSC felt a strong need to being making changes in the way that they handle men and women inside of prison. For that reason the panel was set up and a report entitled “A Roadmap to Strengthening Public Safety”.

They have asked CACs to consider the following 5 questions...
1.) What impact will the panel's recommendations have on CSC locally?
2.) What impact will the panel's recommendations have on CACs locally?
3.) What challenges will these recommendations create locally?
4.) What opportunities will these recommendations create locally?
5.) How can CACs help implement the reports recommendations?

Something to consider as you begin to read…

• Nearly 60% are now serving sentences of less than 3 years and have histories of violence;
• There has been an increase of more than 100% in the proportion of offenders who are classified as maximum security upon admission;
• 1 in 6 now have known gang and/or organized crime affiliations;
• About 4 out of 5 offenders arrive with a serious substance abuse problem, with 1 out of 2 having committed their crime while under the influence; and
• 12% of men offenders and 26% of women offenders are identified as having a very serious mental health problem.

First the Main report…
http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/csc-scc/report-rapport/table_of_contents-eng.aspx
And the summary…
http://www.ps-sp.gc.ca/csc-scc/report-eng.aspx

As you read this report you will read it as an ‘outsider’ – a community person. You will likely be primarily interested in outside issues such as…
1. Offender Accountability…what men and women should do in prison..
3. Employability/employment…how men and women should get ready for the outside world..
5. Eliminating Statutory Release: Moving to Earned Parole…how and women should be considered for release..

While the other two listed has less to do with your own immediate life…
2. Eliminating Drugs from Prison… a logical step but a huge problem – drugs flow freely into the prison system – why and how is it going to be controlled…
And
4. Physical Infrastructure… the way that prisons are built…many are built at least a hundred years ago(or more)…and people inside are handled the same way that they were 100 years ago…(but then drugs, gangs, and releases were not thought of the same way – and they still hung people that were really bad…today we keep them for a long time and then let them live next door to you in your community)

So now that I have your attention…

• Would you like to make a huge contribution?
• Would you like your opinion to count and make a difference?
• If you have been bothered about what the newspaper said – here is your chance to find out the real truth – will you do something about it?
• Will you act and react now?
• Will you do something?

And if you do not wish to do something… will you at least INFORM YOURSELF about what is going on?

This is a different Blog Posting – it is an invitation for you to make a difference. Will you join me and SHOUT OUT YOUR OPINION and IDEAS?

I am waiting. I need your help.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

FIRST – To get involved… read the following…
First the Main report…
http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/csc-scc/report-rapport/table_of_contents-eng.aspx
And the summary…
http://www.ps-sp.gc.ca/csc-scc/report-eng.aspx

SECOND – Write your reflections in an email to me at opinionsaboutprison@gmail.com

THIRD – what you say is very important and will be listened to – your opinion could help one person(or many) in prison. WILL YOU DO SOMETHING NOW?