Report: prison system discriminatory to aboriginals
Updated Mon. Oct. 16 2006 11:09 PM ET
CTV.ca News
Canada's correctional investigator is sounding an alarm about discriminatory treatment against aboriginal offenders in federal penitentiaries.
Howard Sapers said Monday that while the Correctional Service of Canada isn't responsible for the disproportionate numbers of aboriginals in the prison system -- the incarceration rate for natives is nine times higher than for non-natives -- it is responsible for discrimination within its walls.
He pointed to statistics that aboriginal offenders are routinely over-classified -- for example, being routed to maximum security instead of lesser classifications -- compared to non-aboriginals.
"This over-classification is a problem because it means inmates often serve their sentences far away from their family, their community, their friends, their supports, their elders," he said.
Natives get released much later in their sentences and have a harder time getting rehabilitation programming, he said.
"In short ... the general picture is one of institutionalized discrimination," Sapers said.
Some of his other points:
- On a proportional basis, far fewer aboriginals get community supervision than non-aboriginal offenders.
- Aboriginals are more likely to get their parole yanked for technical breaches that non-aboriginal offenders.
- The correctional system must do a better job of preparing aboriginals for release and better support while they are in the community.
The service's own statistics show that despite all the studies and task forces, outcomes for aboriginal offenders haven't improved in 20 years.
"To the contrary, the gap in outcomes ... continues to grow."
Sapers called for more commitment and resources to address these problems.
He wanted more aboriginal workers hired, especially in institutions where there were high numbers of incarcerated natives. In the West, 60 per cent of the federal prisoners are native.
He also noted that given the predominantly young aboriginal population, if current trends continue, the native proportion of the prison population will rise from 18.5 per cent to 25 per cent in the next 10 years.
Aboriginals make up 2.7 per cent of Canada's population.
"Clearly the need to do better is obvious and urgent," said Sapers, a one-time Liberal MLA in Alberta.
Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said he will take the report under consideration.
However, he said there is no evidence of systemic discrimination against aboriginals in the prison system.
Phil Fontaine, grand chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said in a news release that his organization called on the service to implement all of Saper's recommendations.
Beverley Jacobs, president of the Native Womens' Association of Canada, said in a release that there is a clear correlation between poverty and over-representation of aboriginals in the justice system.
With a report from CTV's Graham Richardson
Questions raised about native band's spending
Updated Mon. Oct. 16 2006 11:10 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
A preliminary federal report finds some serious concerns about the tens of millions of dollars given to the Kanesatake band council for security between 2003 and 2005.
According to the report, former grand chief James Gabriel didn't properly spend money given to his council by the Quebec and federal governments to fight alleged organized crime.
"Financial management was not exercised in a prudent, transparent and efficient and effective manner by the band council," said the report.
The band, located west of Montreal, received $34 million.
The report found apparent double-billing of wages and expenses by several police officers whom Gabriel had hired.
Former police chief Terry Isaac received $197,914 for 11 months of work, reported the Canadian Press, but on several occasions received two pay cheques.
Some unsanctioned weapons were purchased by the police force. Those weapons included silencers, and some of them have since gone missing.
Gabriel said the expenditures were approved by the feds. However, federal lawyers are currently reviewing the report to see if charges should be laid.
Sixty-seven officers were hired to keep watch over the community. But on January 2004 some residents turned on the new security force after they conducted a raid on local police officers. They also burned down Gabriel's house.
Gabriel and his entourage then went into exile at the Hilton hotel in Laval, accumulating a bill of nearly $2 million for rooms and meals.
With files from The Canadian Press
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