Corrections Department Refutes Damning Report

Corrections Department Refutes Damning Report

Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 13:59

A spokesman for Corrections Canada says they don’t agree with the findings of a report which criticized the department for its treatment of Aboriginal offenders.

Earlier this month, the federal ombudsman for inmates released a report which said the system systemically discriminates against Native prisoners.

In particular, the report stated Aboriginal offenders were more likely to be placed in solitary confinement and denied restorative programming.

Correctional Service of Canada spokesman Guy Campeau disagrees. He says it’s up to the offenders whether they take the courses or not, and sometimes they refuse.

The report says the number of Native inmates increased by 12 per cent between 1996 and 2004, and that the number of female Aboriginal prisoners shot up by 74 per cent.

Campeau acknowledges the findings, but says that isn’t something the prison system has control over. He says a lot of those decisions are made by judges and others in the justice system.