(Canadian) Record-high prison numbers sparking violence

[alp227]

Source: CBC

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.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/08/27/prison-numbers-crowding.html

[Amonester]

1. That's what we get when the Reform party (in disguise) gets elected...

as Conservatives, with less than 40% of the total votes (the over 60% opposition is divided in two).

No wonder the Parti Québécois looks like it's on the way back to govern next week in Quebec... (minority gov. expected so far).

[Proletariatprincess]

2. This is a troubling developement in Canada.

I have always believed that our neighbors to the north are much more civilized than we are here in the USA. Sorry to say that we are seeing more evidence of change in the North...and not the good kind of change either.
Now it seems that the Harper Government is becoming another client state and is embracing the bad policies of the USA.
The War on Drugs (so called) will destroy Canada's Justice system too and help create the Police State that the USA is rapidly becoming daily.
I think that Canada has enough wisdom not to create a PrisonIndustrial Complex like we have here in the States and will keep private for profit industry out of it's prison and Justice systems. .
I have always felt that Harper was placed in office by the USA in some devious and corrupt way. I put nothing beyond the capabilities and greed driven agenda of the US Corporate State.
I hope I am wrong about all of that. I want to see Canada as a shining example of what USA could and should do in the area of Social Justice and Welfare of it's people.

[arikara]

5. One of Harper's big platforms

was the "tough on crime" bullshit, even though crime is actually at all time low here. And I know people who actually bought into it sadly to say. It didn't take much to get him to his 39% majority.

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. Conservative politicians reap what they have sown.

The Harper government campaigns as "tough on crime."

[Joe Shlabotnik]

4. Classic conservative modus operandi.

Take something that works. Break it. Impose market based "solutions".

step 1 Throw some red meat to your authoritarian base: Pass tougher sentences, and mandatory minimums.
step 2 Be 'fiscally conservative' and close prisons, only to have over crowding in remaining prisons.
step 3 Invite Geo Group to build private for-profit prisons.

http://404systemerror.com/lobbyists-behind-omnibus-crime-bill-aimed-at-privatizing-prisons/

http://404systemerror.com/geo-canada/

[magic59]

6. Are Canadian prisons private corporations like in the US?

Keeping them full is good for profits.