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RIBCO
Articles of Interest
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2006-04-27
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Huge Victory Against Private Prisons |
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The Ontario government has decided to not renew its contract with Management and Training Corporation (MTC). Why is this any different then any other jurisdiction deciding to not renew with a private prison vendor? Because this is the first and only instance where a governmental agency has built two identical prisons for the sole purpose of making a legitimate apples-to-apples comparison. The privateers have avoided such head to head comparisons hiding behind the corporate veil refusing to disclose what's going on behind those walls. They refuse to debate us in public forums and hide behind their political donations to keep their dangerous incarceration for profit prisons in operation.
We knew what the results would be given a fair comparison. Our only fear was that such a comparison would never be made. Well the comparison has been made and as all of us who wear the badge knew there was NO COMPARISON.
"After five years, there has been no appreciable benefit from the private operation of the Central North Correctional Centre - the evidence clearly indicates that the public facility produced better results in key performance areas." Correctional Services Minister Monte Kwinter
READ ON
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
Central North Correctional Centre Transferring To Public Sector Operation
Private Jail Operation Contract Not Renewed
QUEEN'S PARK, ON, April 27 /CNW/ - Ontario will transfer the operation of
the Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene to the public sector, Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Monte Kwinter announced today.
"After five years, there has been no appreciable benefit from the private
operation of the Central North Correctional Centre," said Kwinter. "We
carefully studied its overall performance compared with the publicly operated Central East Correctional Centre in Kawartha Lakes, and concluded the CECC performed better in key areas such as security, health care and reducing re-offending rates. As a result, the government will allow the contract with the private operator to expire."
Management and Training Corporation Canada (MTCC) was chosen to operate
the Central North Correctional Centre in May 2001 as part of a five-year pilot project. During that period, the Central East Correctional Centre - which is identical in design - opened as a publicly operated facility. The pilot project was to determine if there was any advantage to private operations of correctional services in Ontario.
"We acknowledge that MTCC was in material compliance with the contract,"
said Kwinter, "but the evidence clearly indicates that the public facility
produced better results in key performance areas."
The contract with MTCC ends on November 10, 2006. Over the next six
months, the ministry will work with its partners, including MTCC and
bargaining agents, to ensure a safe and smooth transition of CNCC's operations to the Ontario Public Service."
A tremendous amount of credit is to go to Mrs. Sharon Dion from Penetanquishene, Ontario who led the fight against MTC and the private prison there. Sharon never let up. Whenever an incident occurred she was on it and made sure the press was too. She deserves an incredible amount of credit for her dogged perseverance on behalf of all of the people in not only her neck of the woods but across Canada and around the world. The Correctional Officers union in Ontario should but her up for Sainthood. Sharon came to Wyoming several years back as a guest of CUSA to attend a meeting we put together on how best to battle prison privatization, it looks like the lessons where well learned and Sharon should come back and teach us a few things!
Corrections USA is thrilled to have played at least a minor role in the demise of private prisons in Ontario as well. A few years back when Ontario first undertook this idea I was asked to speak before the Ontario Parliament in Toronto on prison privatization in the states. I went to Ontario and toured several facilities with Dave Levac the M.P.P. from Brandt. We appeared before the Parliament and made our presentation. We also gave several media interviews and toured four facilities including the new MTC facility in Penetanquishene. We warned them and provided reams of documentation on the problems we have had in the States. We also made certain that anytime there was an incident or new information on MTC or other private vendors that Sharon was in the loop.
This victory cannot be underestimated. It is the first time an actual apples-to-apples comparison of two identical jails designed in part to make such a comparison between public and private prisons has been undertaken. And the pros won, as we all new they would.
And there is more...
A study released in March from Arizona, one of the more heavily privatized states, found that private prisons cost 10 - 18% MORE than their public counterparts.
Congratulations Sharon, the residents of Penetanquishene can sleep a little safer tonight because of you. And we have another arrow in our quiver to fight them in the states.
Well keep fighting and keep you posted.
Brian Dawe
Executive Director
Corrections USA
Thayne, WY
307-883-CUSA
866-561-8916 toll free
www.cusa.org |
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