Criminologists fear private prison boom (Canada)

[ConcernedCanuk]

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Criminologists fear private prison boom

Apr. 2, 2006. 06:10 PM
CANADIAN PRESS
SUE BAILEY

OTTAWA — Leading criminologists say Conservative plans to get tougher on crime could result in superjails run for profit by private companies eager to cash in on those plans.

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Dilemmas include the thorny ethical question of whether corporations that profit from having full cell blocks should be charged with caring for violent inmates. Critics point out the obvious absence of any business incentive to lower rates of repeat offence.

The U.S. experience with private prisons suggests higher rates of return to jail, more in-custody incidents, more escapes and higher staff turnover, says Anthony Doob, a criminologist at the University of Toronto.

Incarceration rates have quadrupled south of the border since the mid-1970s. There are now more than two million Americans behind bars, compared to about 12,000 federal prisoners in Canada, largely due to tougher U.S. sentencing and parole laws — the very kind of crackdown now proposed by the Tories.



The last thing we need up here is to follow examples set south of our border

We see how well your guvment is working down there . .

(sigh)

[Kagemusha]

1. Prison overcrowding isn't cool either.

Just to mention. Because while I hear very little about it in Canada, besides the fact it exists, I've heard how it's a huge problem in Britain and is a direct cause of prisoner suicides.

[killbotfactory]

2. Be afraid... be very afraid...

But if you want more corruption, feel free to follow our example.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Our non-private prisons aren't all that hot, either...

and the last thing on earth you want to do is copy our system.

Might get you a crime rate as bad as ours is if you're not careful, but at the very least it will cost you a small fortune.

[lonestarnot]

4. This has been a fear for some time now. I believe it is not longer a fear

but a reality and almost entirely too big to do much about. Let it burn.

[henslee]

5. link??

[ConcernedCanuk]

7. Link is the Toronto Star image in the original post

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[saigon68]

6. The Leash Lady will now have a job when she GETS OUT

[Amonester]

8. Le Bloc Quebecois will never 'approve' this...

(another neo-Can-con doomed-from-the-start idiot idea...)

they can "dream" all they want: won't happen.