Conservatives' Public Safety Roadmap Misguided, Greens

OTTAWA – The Conservative government's 2007 policy paper on the Correctional Service of Canada was severely criticized in a recent report entitled “A Flawed Compass: A Human Rights Analysis of the Roadmap to Strengthening Public Safety.”

“This important report highlights what the Green Party has been saying for years – the Conservative government's approach to justice and security stems from political expediency rather than clear evidence and sober analysis,” said Elizabeth May, Green Party Leader.  “The Conservatives' ideological agenda has undermined their integrity and their ability to effectively reform our federal correctional system.”

The Green Party is calling on the federal government to review its public safety policy paper in light of the overwhelming evidence indicating that government investments in restorative justice programs like Victim-Offender Mediation as well as supervised and graduated release programs significantly reduce rates of re-offence.  Greater accountability and community support, rather than increased sentence terms, has been shown to be the most effective way to make sure that offenders do not enter into re-offending cycles.

“This government dedicated almost $500 million in the 2008 budget to implementing an ineffective and misguided policy that not only fails to increase public safety, but undermines human rights protection in Canada,” said Jared Giesbrecht, Green Party Justice Critic.  “It is time for public policy that is grounded in solid evidence and prudent fiscal management – the Canadian public demands nothing less.  There is no excuse for dramatically increasing spending without increasing public safety.”

“True justice and real security comes when offenders are held accountable to their communities,” said Mr. Giesbrecht.  “A genuine transformation of our correctional system will come through public policies designed to entrench a culture of respect for human rights while at the same time enhancing a community's ability to hold offenders accountable.”

Green Party MPs will:
•    Increase funding for and promote the use of restorative justice programs for first time non-violent offenders, in which wrongdoers make reparation to victims and their community.
•    Work with the provinces to ensure stable funding for organizations that provide much needed support to those who have been harmed by violent crime.
•    Focus upon education and meaningful work for offenders in order that they might pay at least part of the costs of their crime and housing in jail as well as prepare for reintegration into society upon their release.  
•    Support an effective system of graduated and supervised release into communities in order to substantially reduce rates of re-offending.

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Debra Eindiguer
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