Correctional Service Canada Review
Sampson's Panel
On April 20, 2007, Minister Stockwell Day announced the creation of a Review Panel to analyze the priorities set by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) in an effort to enhance public safety. The CSC Review Panel requested that organizations such as CCJC provide input regarding CSC’s operational priorities and strategies. CCJC submitted its comments at the beginning of June, and made sure to stress the importance of further consultation. CCJC offered to facilitate consultations with the public as issues are identified by the Panel. Our comments included:
* Mandatory sentencing and reduction or discontinuation of conditional and statutory release presents a challenge to program design and access. CCJC urged the panel to consider the consequences of augmenting prison population, including increased violence and decreased compliance as the incentive of release is removed;
* Inmates reintegrate better when they are close to their circles of support; therefore the need to consider inmates' background in placing Community Correctional Centres;
* CCJC encouraged gradual release with supervision to reduce recidivism;
* CCJC condemned possible federal adoption of the provincial super-jail model for its ineffectiveness and human impact.
CCJC was pleased to accept the Panel’s invitation to present its submissions personally, which took place on June 25, 2007. We were represented by our Past-president, Jane Griffiths, and two members of our Board — Kester Trim, of the Salvation Army, and Laurent Champagne, President of CCJC Quebec —whose “on the ground” experience provided a very realistic picture of the issues discussed.
To read the full text of CCJC’s submissions to the Panel click here (pdf).
The Panel's final report was released on October 31st, 2007 and can be accessed through CSC's website.