The state of Canadian prisons has been an issue of concern for more than a century now. Additionally, prisons are run in a manner that does not promote rehabilitation, which should be the goal of penitentiaries. Multiple reports over the years have shown that inmates are subjected to violence, torture, racism, and other forms of abuse. Despite these findings, the Canadian government has not taken any action to improve the state of prisons. In fact, some officials deny that prisons are in a critical state and maintain that there is nothing to fix. Prison reform is necessary to resolve the numerous problems present in the current system.
In his article “Houses of Hate: How Canada’s Prison System is Broken”, Justin Ling discusses prison conditions in Canada. The author explains that virtually all aspects of prisons are alarming. Some prisons are in poor physical states, posing a security risk to both prisoners and officials. For instance, Stony Mountain Institution is almost one hundred and fifty years old (Ling, 2021). In addition to being antiquated, prisons are dangerous for inmates. The homicide rate within these institutions is higher than in the outside population. Additionally, officers deploy physical force as they see fit, and there are no provisions to prevent sexual violence in prisons. The system is also racist, as evidenced by the overrepresentation of Black and indigenous people. In provinces such as Saskatchewan and Manitoba, indigenous people comprise 75% of the prison population (Ling, 2021). Besides being incarcerated at a higher proportion, Black and indigenous inmates are more likely to be placed in maximum security facilities and solitary confinement.
Ling also found that prisons contribute to inmates’ mental health deterioration. These institutions do nothing to help people with mental health conditions and sometimes even punish them for it. Next, the author discusses in detail how inmates are subjected to torture in the form of solitary confinement. Some prisoners spend twenty-two hours or more in their cells (Ling, 2021). In addition to being denied sunshine and the freedom to interact with others, inmates are not provided with adequate food. Due to cost-cutting measures, inmates do not get enough food or even meals with the recommended nutrients. Ling also found that inmates are overworked and underpaid for their labor. They are then expected to pay for room and board from their meager earnings. Moreover, the author explains that prisons do not actually work. They do not reform inmates since many are rearrested for parole violations or new crimes after release (Ling, 2021). Ling argues that the current state of the prison system necessitates a complete overhaul.
I think the Canadian Prison System provides an environment where people are treated inhumanely. Being sentenced to prison in Canada is akin to losing fundamental human rights. For instance, forcing prisoners to work long hours for which they are paid poorly is slave labor. Additionally, denying them adequate food or requiring them to pay for food is cruel. These institutions barely rehabilitate inmates, which raises the question of why they are allowed to continue to exist in their current state. It is illogical that the government spends so much money to keep prisons running. Evidently, the Canadian Prison System is in urgent need of restructuring.
The first step in improving the prison system is incarceration, which is the opposite of incarceration. Decarceration is the policy of reducing the number of people sent to prison (Abramovaite et al., 2019). It can be achieved by limiting offenses that are punishable by jail sentences. Currently, there are individuals in prison for violations such as petty theft, drug possession, and other misdemeanors. The criminal justice system should utilize other forms of rehabilitation besides imprisonment, especially for minor infractions. There are numerous alternatives, including fines, drug courts, restitution, community service, and probation (Abramovaite et al., 2019). These sanctions would reduce the strain on prison facilities and help to solve some problems associated with prisons. For instance, in his article, Ling explains that coronavirus spread rapidly within the prison population in 2021. This would not have happened if prisons were not overcrowded. Decarceration would also reduce the resources spent on running the facilities. Overall, Canada would benefit from the extensive use of noncustodial measures.
Another way in which prison conditions can be improved is by adopting open prisons for individuals deemed harmless to society. An open prison is one that does not severely restrict prisoners’ movements and actions (Crewe et al., 2022). Instead, prisoners are expected and trusted to manage themselves. Open prisons do not lock up inmates behind perimeter security, which would solve the problem of solitary confinement in Canadian prisons. Additionally, prisoners can commute to work, earning the same rates as those outside prison. In contrast, inmates in Canada can earn a maximum of $6.90 a day, which is roughly the amount that a prisoner in Norway would make in an hour (Ling, 2021). Some critics would argue that open prisons do not punish individuals for their crimes. However, prisons exist to reform offenders, not punish them. Moreover, open prisons have been found to be effective in reducing crime rates in Nordic countries such as Iceland (Pakes & Gunnlaugsson, 2018). The Canadian Prison System can be improved by implementing relaxing restrictions imposed on inmates.
Lastly, Canadian prisons should introduce activities to ensure prisoners are not completely excluded from the outside world. For instance, the facilities should provide inmates with access to high-quality education. Currently, prisons offer classes to inmates; however, these classes are not tailored to meet prisoners’ needs. For instance, some schooling programs do not distinguish between college-level students and junior high school students (Ling, 2021). Equipping inmates with high-quality education makes their return to the community smoother (McKendy & Ricciardelli, 2021). They will have the knowledge and skills to secure employment outside prison. Additionally, prisons should provide competent mental health services such as counseling. Many inmates struggle with mental health issues without any support, which exacerbates their issues. Moreover, research shows that incarceration is associated with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, stress, and other psychological issues (MacKenzie & Amirault, 2021). Counseling would help inmates cope with unresolved traumas and any other problems arising from being imprisoned. Generally, humane treatment of prisoners would help resolve some of the issues they face during and after their sentences.
In conclusion, the state of most Canadian prisons is inhumane. Correctional services use a large proportion of the nation’s budget, yet prisoners face numerous issues, including violence, insecurity, torture, and undernutrition. Given the current state of prisons, it would be cruel to keep ignoring these pressing concerns. Some of the solutions to these problems are decarceration, adopting the open prison system, and providing rehabilitative services inside these facilities. It is essential to note that these solutions are not exhaustive since the problem with Canadian prisons runs deep. However, they would be a step in the right direction as professionals draft more permanent solutions.
References
Abramovaite, J., Bandyopadhyay, S., Bhattacharya, S., & Cowen, N. (2019). Alternatives to custody: Evidence from police force areas in England and Wales. The British Journal of Criminology, 59(4), 800-822. Web.
Crewe, B., Ievins, A., Larmour, S., Laursen, J., Mjåland, K., & Schliehe, A. (2022). Nordic penal exceptionalism: A comparative, empirical analysis. The British Journal of Criminology. Web.
Ling, J. (2021). Houses of hate: How Canada’s prison system is broken. MacLean’s. Web.
MacKenzie, C., & Amirault, J. (2021). From incarceration to reintegration: Using the human services model to manage Canadian prisoner mental health. Journal of Correctional Health Care, 27(1), 66-70. Web.
McKendy, L., & Ricciardelli, R. (2021). The pains of imprisonment and contemporary prisoner culture in Canada. The Prison Journal, 101(5), 528-552. Web.
Pakes, F., & Gunnlaugsson, H. (2018). A more Nordic Norway? Examining prisons in 21st century Iceland. The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, 57(2), 137-151. Web.