NCJ Number
162922
Journal
Journal of Prisoners on Prisons Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (1995) Pages: 41-61
Date Published
1995
Length
21 pages
Annotation
The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) and other national women's and social justice groups condemn the use of incarceration as the least effective and most expensive means of dealing with criminals and note that incarceration tends to dehumanize and brutalize the prison experience.
Abstract
The CAEFS urges that Canada's Commission of Inquiry Into Certain Events at the Prison for Women in Kingston, Ontario, call upon the Federal Government to limit the use of incarceration. Specific CAEFS recommendations are as follows: (1) institute a moratorium on the number of prison beds available for federally sentenced women throughout Canada; (2) provide resources for judicial education authorities to support educational opportunities that expand knowledge of the relative merits and long-term effectiveness of sentencing options; (3) provide support for such noninstitutional criminal sanctions as probation, suspended sentences, educational and vocational programming and training, therapeutic and self-help services; neighborhood and community service, restitution, compensation, mediation, and residential treatment and community supervision options; (4) deinstitutionalize as many women in prison as possible; (5) fund and promote the access of women in prison to legal aid services; and (6) promote public access and exposure to prison. The work of the Commission of Inquiry during the 1992- 1995 period is described. 7 references