NCJ Number
47302
Date Published
Unknown
Length
18 pages
Annotation
A REORGANIZATION PROGRAM WAS UNDERTAKEN IN THE CANADIAN PRISON INDUSTRIES TO SOLVE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH INMATE IDLENESS WHILE PROVIDING A CONSTRUCTIVE MILIEU TO PREPARE INMATES FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT.
Abstract
THE PURPOSES AND GOALS OF THE REORGANIZATION WERE TO PROVIDE INMATES WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN GOOD WORK HABITS, WORK EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS; AND TO DEVELOP GREATER SELF-RESPECT AND COOPERATIVE COMMUNITY ATTITUDES WITHIN IN ENVIRONMENT WHICH WOULD APPROACH FREE WORLD INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE. IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT SUCH AN AMBITIOUS PROGRAM, IT WAS NECESSARY TO GAIN THE SUPPORT AND AGREEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS FOR PROGRAM GOALS AND INTENTIONS AND TO OBTAIN THE NECESSARY FINANCIAL RESOURCES, SUPPLIES, AND PRODUCT MARKETING OUTLETS TO SET UP A PILOT PROGRAM. THE PILOT PROJECT INVOLVED THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING JOYCEVILLE PENITENTIARY INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS; ALTERATION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS; EMPLOYMENT OF A CONSULTANT CONTRACTING FIRM; AND PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION, STARTUP, AND INITIAL OPERATION. ESTIMATED COST OF THESE ACTIVITIES WAS $1,400,000. THE BUDGET REQUEST WAS APPROVED IN JULY OF 1974, AND WORK ON THE PILOT PLANT BEGAN IN EARLY 1976, WITH A STARTUP DATE TENTATIVELY SET FOR APRIL-MAY 1976. MARKETING NEGOTIATIONS WERE UNDERTAKEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF SERVICES AND SUPPLIES (DSS). THE PRISON SERVICE WAS CONTRACTED TO BECOME THE SOLE SOURCE OF DSS SUPPLY FOR MODULAR SHELVING AND OTHER TYPES OF MODULAR FURNITURE TO BE BUILT IN THE JOYCEVILLE PLANT, AND THE DSS PLACED ITS FIRST ORDER BY MID-1976. FORMAL MARKET PENETRATION, RESEARCH, AND PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION ACTIVITIES WERE ALSO STARTED AT THIS TIME AND ARE CONTINUING. BY MID-1976, CONSTRUCTION WORK AT THE JOYCEVILLE PLANT WAS COMPLETED, AND THE NEW SOCIOECONOMICALLY ORIENTED INMATE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM WAS PUT INTO OPERATION WITH AN INITIAL WORKFORCE OF 15 INMATES WORKING AT AN HOURLY RATE OF $1.25 DURING THE 3-MONTH TRAINING PERIOD. WHEN RUNNING AT FULL CAPACITY, THE PLANT WILL EMPLOY 80 INMATES WITH A PAY SCALE RANGING FROM $1.25 TO $2.80 PER HOUR PLUS GROUP BONUS INCENTIVES FOR EXCEEDING PRESET PRODUCTION STANDARDS. IT WILL TAKE 2 FULL YEARS OF OPERATION TO COMPLETELY DEMONSTRATE AND EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF THE PILOT PROJECT. CONSEQUENTLY IT WILL BE MID-1978 BEFORE THE PROJECT CAN BE EXPANDED TO OTHER MAXIMUM AND MEDIUM SECURITY FACILITIES. PROJECTED PLANS INCLUDE THE EVENTUAL ESTABLISHMENT OF 2 LARGE, HIGH-PRODUCTION, AND SELF-SUPPORTING INDUSTRIES IN MOST 450-MAN MAXIMUM AND MEDIUM SECURITY INSTITUTIONS AND ONE SUCH INDUSTRY IN MOST 180- TO 220-MAN INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE CANADIAN PENITENTIARY SERVICE. OPERATION OF SUCH INDUSTRIES IN MINIMUM SECURITY AND COMMUNITY-BASED FACILITIES IS NOT CONSIDERED FEASIBLE. (JAP)