Federal prisons discriminate against aboriginals: ombudsman

[CHIMO]

OTTAWA — The Canadian prison system is practising "systemic discrimination" against aboriginal offenders, says the federal ombudsman for inmates — a finding that his political masters in the Conservative government refuse to accept.

Howard Sapers, in his annual report Monday, said the Correctional Service of Canada too often overestimates the risk posed by native prisoners and sends them to maximum-security institutions when less rigorous treatment would do.

Aboriginals are also more likely than non-aboriginals to be sent to solitary confinement, and to be overlooked for early parole and thus end up serving too much time behind bars, said Mr. Sapers.

"The general picture is one of institutionalized discrimination," he told a news conference. 'That is, aboriginal people are routinely disadvantaged once they are placed into the custody of the correctional service."

Public Safety Minister Stockewll Day balked at that conclusion, insisting as he officially tabled the report in the House of Commons that there was "no empirical evidence" to support the finding.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061016.wprison16/BNStory/National/home

Doris has added a new word to his vocabulary.

Doris probably thinks it means there is no "empire evidence" that confirms the data.

Suppose much the same as global warming evidence?