Lower Crime Rates, Over Crowded Prisons What’s Going On?

Back in the winter of 2011 and the spring of 2012 the so called political left was going crazy over the omnibus crime bill that the PC government introduced and passed. We also fought this bill for it’s insanities from a non left/right position.

The statistics showing that Canada’s crime rates were at 40 year lows, was everywhere. In every main stream and independent media publications.

“Amid all the recent headlines about shootouts, gang violence and assaults, it appears the crime rates across Canada are actually on the decline.

A new Statistics Canada report released Tuesday claims that the overall crime rate in 2011 was down 6 per cent from 2010 and was at it’s lowest point since 1972.

Moreover, violent crime, which includes homicides, attempted murders and assault, was down 4 per cent — the fifth consecutive annual decline.”

Source: ca.news.yahoo.com

Later in the spring the federal government announced the closure of three prisons.

“News that Kingston Penitentiary, Canada’s oldest federal prison,and two other federal institutions are slated to close stunned — and stung — prison guards, parole officers and inmate advocates, who raised fears violence behind bars would rise and public safety outside would also be at risk.

The federal Conservatives announced Kingston Pen, which today houses 410 of the country’s most dangerous prisoners including many in “protective custody,” is to be shuttered within two years. So will the Ontario Regional Treatment Centre, a stand-alone psychiatric institution housing 146 profoundly mentally ill offenders inside Kingston Pen’s secure perimeter. Also on the chopping block: Leclerc Institution, a 51-year-old medium-security facility in Laval, Que., that now houses about 400 male prisoners.”

Source: thestar.com

Now, as we enter the fall the main stream media is reporting that Canadian prisons are severely overpopulated and this is going to lead to an escalation in violence.

Canada’s prison population has reached an all-time high , with more inmates sharing cells designed for one, a situation that has raised tensions and led to growing violence, Canada’s correctional investigator says.

Howard Sapers, an ombudsman for inmates, presented the latest figures during a weekend national symposium on prison overcrowding in Ottawa that drew about 80 of Canada’s top criminologists, lawyers and prison experts.

As of July 31, there were 15,097 inmates in federal prisons, a “historic high,” according to Sapers.

Source: cbc.ca

But when we look back to 2010 Stockwell Day had announced that the federal Government was investing 9 billion dollars in prisons because of “unreported crimes”.

Lets get this straight. Crime rates have been at 40 years lows and the government wanted to invest 9 billion into new jails. Then legislation is passed (Bill C-10 the omnibus crime bill) that will lock Canadians up for longer periods. After this, they announce the closure 3 of their largest facilities, but before those closures happen. We are being told that the federal prisons are severely over populated and this could cause a large increase in violence. Sound crazy? It’s not!

What we are witnessing is what many people witnessed back in the 1990′s when Penetanguishene prison was privatized. Penetanguishene, 1,200-inmate facility was privatized only to see that project become a complete failure and ended up back in the control of the government. Before that jail was privatized the Mike Harris government and the main stream media bombarded people with contradicting statistics, embellished stories, and the promise of saving money in hard economic times. Exactly the kind of propaganda we are beginning to see from the federal government.

It is important to note that Management and Training Corp. was the main lobbyist who brought the idea of privatization to the government of Ontario, and ultimately ran the facility. Because none other than Management and Training Corp. and Geo Group (the two biggest American private prison operators) have been lobbying the federal government in various area’s of law enforcement legislation, since the Harper government took power.

Lets take a look at this using one of governments/corporations favorite tools. The hegelian dialectic (Problem, Reaction, Solution)

Problem: Corporations want to take over the prison system. So the government and main stream media create the false problem. Using tactics of confusion and subversion. In this case, it seems to be that our prison system is in total disarray and the government cannot handle it.

Reaction: After being misguided for a period of time, the people usually buckle under, to the fear and confusion campaigns. Here in Canada it may not be visible, but our population is very apathetic and usually just “rolls with the punches”. The overall consensus becomes “something has to be done”.

Solution: Privatization. The corporations who originally began the campaign, can then step in as the “savoir”. Promising to get everything under control.

What they leave out, is facts like with the majority of their contracts these corporations require a 90% occupancy rate. Which means more people locked up, for longer periods. Also that they use the prisoners as slave laborers. The private prisons in the United States employ the prisoners to do manufacturing, telecommunications, and a variety of other jobs. Paying them next to nothing.

This in turn aids in the destruction of local economies. Why would another corporation hire people off of the street, when then can have inmates do the work at a fraction of the price. Creating an endless cycle. Lower economies equal more crime, then with stiffer laws, these people do more time in jail. Our communities will literally become slave labor recruiting zones. All while the corporations are “laughing all the way to the bank”.

I am going to end this off on a positive note. From the information that I have gathered, this program of privatization is still in the early stages. I would estimate that we have around 2 to 5 years before a real push begins. This gives us the people, plenty of time to expose this insidious plan of privatization. Please turn off the TV, do your own research, and start spreading the word in every way that you can!