On the heels of recent allegations of staff misconduct and ongoing concerns regarding severe overcrowding, high recidivism rates and gang activity, Progressive Conservative Justice Critic Kelvin Goertzen is calling on the NDP Justice Minister Dave Chomiak to commission a thorough operational review of Headingley Correctional Centre, to be conducted by an independent entity.
“Manitoba’s jails are desperately overcrowded with a revolving door of inmates creating an environment that is dangerous for those working in the jail and the public as a whole,” Goertzen said. “It’s a recipe for disaster.”
In October 2008, Goertzen highlighted overcrowding as a major concern, requesting Chomiak investigate whether overcrowding played a role when a prisoner escaped from Headingley Jail. Minister Chomiak confirmed to Goertzen that an internal review on overcrowding and security is being done but would not be released publicly.
Now more than three months later, there are 687 inmates at Headingley Correctional Centre, 202 over the rated capacity of 485.
“Overcrowding and high recidivism not only places increased stress on correction officials working in the jail and may endanger their safety, but also creates prime conditions for violence to occur,” Goertzen said. “Ultimately, a corrections system should have the goal of protecting the public, maintaining order in the institution and reducing re-offences. It looks as though we are failing on all three counts.”
Goertzen said the review should include an examination of:
• The circumstances surrounding the dismissal of correctional officers who allegedly had inappropriate physical contact with inmates, and who allegedly delivered narcotics to inmates;
• The frequency of similar conduct and the level of awareness of Department of Justice officials;
• How to reduce recidivism rates, which is regularly around 70 per cent; and
• The extent to which overcrowding and gang activity plays a role in other incidents within the jail.
Goertzen said once complete, the review should be made public.
“This isn’t a problem the Minister can keep to himself any longer,” Goertzen said. “Public confidence in our justice system depends on transparency from the Minister’s office.”
