RUNNING HEAD: Canada’s Youth Correctional Facilities.
Canada’s Youth Correctional Facilities. 2
Topic
Name
Institution
Canada’s Youth Correctional Facilities.
Part One
Introduction
In Canada, correctional services for youth aged between the ages of twelve to seventeen years at the time of offense are protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). The Act requires the Criminal Justice System for Youth in Canada to separate the youths from adults. Basically, the system is based on the principle of diminished culpability or the diminished moral blameworthiness (Correctional Service of Canada, 2015). Furthermore, the system emphasizes on youth rehabilitation and reintegration supplemented by proportionate and fair accountability of the system towards the youth offenders. In essence, the Youth Criminal Justice Act, 2002 requires enhanced procedural provision and protection of the youth offenders and timely intervention of their suspected crimes. It is also important to note that federal government is the primarily responsible body for setting and executing legislation framework aimed at youth justice (Correctional Service of Canada, 2015). But regardless of this structural and organizational framework aimed at proper treatment of youths, Correlation facilities still criminalize, segregate and unfairly treat the youth offenders.
According to a report review by Statistical Canada (2015), year 2013/2014 experienced a total of more than 20,975 admissions. An increase in the number of youths and young adults admitted to correction facilities increased the challenges faced by these inmates (Statistics Canada, 2015). Some of the common unfair events that inmates face include Segregation, Health issues, Food rationing, Punishment, overcrowding and Solitary Confinement. These unfair treatments have resulted in increased mental illness among the inmates, increased suicide levels banging head on the wall, Gang activity in prisons, Drug and Substance abuse and violence within the correction facility (Baillargeon, Hoge, & Penn, 2010).
Food Rationing
In the year 2015, the government cut about $6.4 million from the Corrections grocery budget served to corrections facilities in Canada. According to Jeremy Laurin, the Spokesman for the Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney highlights that youth inmates in correction facilities are in the facilities to correct their criminal activities. Food rationing denies inmates an opportunity to access enough food which results in malnutrition and other related diseases. This fair treatment has increased violence and depression rates among youth inmates in Canadian Correction facilities (Clancy, 2016).
Overcrowding and Over Heating
It is believed that Correction Service Canada CSV has failed in expanding Youth Correction facilities in the Country. Following this, inmates are double-bunked in single rooms which expose them to overheating, less space and even poor ventilation (Chartier, 2001). This unfair congestion of inmates in small rooms for higher profits exposes them to health risks and poor living conditions which are against the human rights recommendations. As a result, unfair treatment of youth inmates in these correction facilities increases the chances of violence Against Staff and other offenders in the facility (Elliott & Schrink, 2009).
Health Issues
Due to overheating, overcrowding, poor living conditions and malnutrition, prisoners are always exposed to both acute and serve health conditions. Depression has resulted in increased mental health cases in these correction facilities which pose a huge risk to other offenders in the facilities (Henry, 1998). Drug use disorders and the presence of infection diseases for example; Sexually Transmitted Diseases e.g. HIV, Respiratory diseases-Tuberculosis, and skin diseases are some of the common health conditions affecting youth inmates in Correction Facilities. When it comes to treatment, patients are denied informed consent and voluntary treatment which infringes on their human rights and freedoms.
Punishment Solitary Confinement and Isolation of Some Prisoners
According to Canadian Medical Association Journal (2016), lack of social interaction and stimulation is the leading cause of increased risks of suicide, self-harm, depression, anger, and anxiety among youth inmates. Isolated inmates face massive difficulties in separating reality from their thoughts which result in mental disorders and confusion. Some of signs and signs that an inmate is facing from Solitary confinement include palpitations, insomnia, anorexia, and lethargy (Hales, Dixon, Newton & Bartlett, 2016).
It is clear that 90% of individuals who commit suicide in prisons have a history of mental health challenges with frequent self-harming or attempts to commit suicide. These are associated with segregation of inmates inappropriately away from what is documented by Canadian law and Correction policy (Baillargeon, Hoge, & Penn, 2010). According to Canadian law and Correction policy on segregation, administrative segregation is suggested to offenders who are placed under confinement to evaluate their physical and mental health conditions. Basically, segregation and solitary confinement are unfair treatment conducted by Correction facilities result to more health concerns as compared to behavior correction visionary given by these correction facilities (Hales, Dixon, Newton & Bartlett, 2016).
Summary of the Main Issues
From the exploration and analysis of the journals resources, it is evidently clear that Canada’s youth correctional facilities do not handle their inmates fairly. The increased number of suicides, sexual harassment and infectious diseases in correctional facilities in Canada is as a result of the environment where inmates are placed. Suicides are contributed by solitary confinement or segregation an administrative action taken by correction facilities to deal with mental health conditions in inmates (Baillargeon, Hoge, & Penn, 2010). But misuse of this activity has resulted in depression, anxiety, and stress due to social interaction and stimulation denial for the affected inmates (Henry, 1998). What results is increased violence in cells, health challenges such as suicidal thoughts or actual suicide and sexual harassment among offenders.
As a matter of fact, increased drug use, increased in crime rates and racial incarceration of youths has led to an increased number of individuals sent to correction facilities each year. Increased in the number of inmates without expanding the correctional facility means a reduction in bed to inmate ratio where inmates can even share beds or single rooms (Chartier, 2001). Overcrowding is an unfair treatment of inmate because they are at risk of contracting infection diseases cardiovascular diseases, overheating has an effect on general health or eventually result to increased violence due to heat stress. It also increased violence towards correctional facilities. In essence, unfair treatment of inmates in youth Correction facilities in Canada results in poor living condition for both the offenders and the correctional officers (Elliott & Schrink, 2009).
Finally, government initiatives such as cutting the cost of food for correction facilities increases situational malnutrition, depression and health-related problems vomiting, general weakness in inmates suffering their sentence at correctional centers. According to human rights commission, no individual or government has right to bar another human from accessing food or other basic needs (Clancy, 2016). By rationing amount of food given to inmates, the facilities treat the said individual unfairly resulting in depression and malnutrition. Therefore, the argument that correction facilities treat youth inmates unfairly is not confirmed from the direction, guidelines and information offered by the resources used.
Part Two
All the resources used in this paper were based on the opinion that inmates in correction facilities in Canada are ill-treated and their human rights denied. For example, according to (Chartier, 2001), correction facilities in Canada are more of punishment and harassment centers. This is because; inmates are denied their right to association and interaction due to the “administrative segregation” activity. Henry, 1998 argues that correction officers often abuse the administrative segregation plan by placing some inmates in isolation without any pre-determined signs of depression or mental illness. Following this isolation, most of them end up being rude, violent or even adopt suicidal thoughts. Furthermore, he highlights that food rationing is inhuman activity faced by inmates in most correction facilities in Canada. Most inmates do not receive equal portions of food which is not balanced diet either (Clancy, 2016). They end up having diminished nutrition which is followed by digestive system problems such as vomiting. Basically, the ill-treatment of patients exposes them to more danger than the outer eye sees. Lastly, the journal also highlights the issue of overcrowding. Overcrowding is a situation where a huge number of inmates are placed in a small room. Overcrowding is an unfair treatment because it increases risks to diseases such as skin diseases, respiratory tract problems or even violence in those little rooms (Elliott & Schrink, 2009). In normal condition, inmates should be placed in rooms with enough space where every individual has good space to breathe and protect his personal effects and hygiene.
Similar issues have been raised by (Henry, 1998), but he is of the opinion that correction facilities should be expanded. According to him, overcrowding in correction facilities is the route of all evils in these centers. He argues that expansion would offer enough space for both the prisoners and correction officers to live in peace and harmony (Chartier, 2001).
Conclusion
All the resources in this paper confirm that youth inmate in Correction facilities in Canada is not fairly treated. Some of the important point or issues raised by the authors are overcrowding, poor health condition, punishment Isolation, Food raising and segregation. For example, (Elliott & Schrink, 2009), highlights that LGBT youth inmates are prone to separation from both the correction officers and fellow offenders. Regardless of having the law such as the Canadian law and Correction policy, youth inmates are always faced with challenges that infringe on their human rights raising more negative results that the “Correction” assumption placed on these facilities. For example, according to (Henry, 1998), 20% of youths who commit suicide in correction facilities must have been placed in solitary confinement rooms. This is an indication that the unfair treatment in these isolation rooms such as harassment, denial of access health service and denial food and blockage to human interaction and association result to these challenges (Baillargeon, Hoge, & Penn, 2010).
References
Chartier, G. (July 01, 2001). Managing a Correction Facility. Crime & Justice International, 17, 54, 13.
Elliott, W. N., & Schrink, J. L. (January 01, 2009). Understanding the Special Challenges Faced by the Correctional Counselor in the Prison Setting- Science Direct Journal.
Henry, M. A. (July 01, 1998). Unethical Staff Behavior: Case Studies Exemplify Challenges Faced in Correctional Environments. Corrections Today, 60, 4, 102
Baillargeon, J., Hoge, S. K., & Penn, J. V. (January 01, 2010). Addressing the challenge of community reentry among released inmates with serious mental illness. American Journal of Community Psychology, 46, 3-4.
Hales, H., Dixon, A., Newton, Z., & Bartlett, A. (June 01, 2016). Assaults by Mentally Disordered Offenders in Prison: Equity and Equivalence. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry: an Interdisciplinary Forum for Ethical and Legal Debate, 13, 2, 317-326.
Clancy, N. (2016). Prison food cutbacks have inmates complaining of sickness, malnutrition. CBC News. Retrieved 24 October 2016, from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/prison-food-after-cutbacks-called-disgusting-and-inadequate-by-b-c-inmates-1.2989657
Correctional Service of Canada,. (2015). Correctional Service of Canada – FORUM on Corrections Research. Csc-scc.gc.ca. Retrieved 24 October 2016, from http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/research/forum/e063/e063n-eng.shtml
Statistics Canada, (2015). Surveys and statistical programs – Corrections Key Indicator Report for Adults and Youth (CKIR) .Www23.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 24 October 2016, from http://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&SDDS=3313&lang=en&db=imdb&adm=8&dis=2
Annotated Bibliography
Chartier, G. (July 01, 2001). Managing a Correction Facility. Crime & Justice International, 17, 54, 13.
Chartier work looks at how well correction facilities should be managed to achieve equal and humanly treatment of inmates. He highlights some of the unfair treatment experienced by inmates such as overcrowding, corporal punishment, isolation and racial segregation in Correlation facilities. Chartier is an expert in Crime and Justice therefore making this scholarly article an important resource to this research.
Elliott, W. N., & Schrink, J. L. (January 01, 2009). Understanding the Special Challenges Faced by the Correctional Counselor in the Prison Setting- Science Direct Journal.
Science Direct is journal that is contributed by numerous experts in various fields. Elliott and Schrink are two experts who understand the challenges faced by counselor as correction officers in Correction facilities. They have highlighted some unfair treatment faced by inmates such as overcrowding as some of the reasons leading to violence and harassment of correction workers. In essence, this is a critical resource to the study because it opens up the gaps that showcase what unfair treatments are propagated by correction officers and staff.
Henry, M. A. (July 01, 1998). Unethical Staff Behavior: Case Studies Exemplify Challenges Faced in Correctional Environments. Corrections Today, 60, 4, 102
“Corrections Today” is a scholarly journal that analysis correction issues around the world. This specific resource by Henry highlights the unethical behavior experienced from the staff side and which are directed to the inmates. Some of the highlighted injustices include punishment, isolation and segregation. This journal is very important in defending the paper’s hypothesis that youth’s inmates are always faced with unfair treatment in these correction centers.
Baillargeon, J., Hoge, S. K., & Penn, J. V. (January 01, 2010). Addressing the challenge of community reentry among released inmates with serious mental illness. American Journal of Community Psychology, 46, 3-4.
Mental illnesses and increase in suicidal rates brings to attention the importance of psychology in correction facilities. The American journal of Community Psychology through authors Penn, Hoge and Baillargeon explored the challenges experienced by inmates who are ready to get reintegrated back to the community. Their main concern was “Solitary Confinement” as an unfair treatment towards the inmates and which affects their ability to reunite and relate with other people’s well. The resource, explains how different countries such as Canada reintegrate their inmates and the challenges faced in achieving a smooth reintegration process. This paper is very crucial in defending the argument that segregation, separation and solitary confinement are unfair treatment towards youth inmates in Canadian correction facilities.
Hales, H., Dixon, A., Newton, Z., & Bartlett, A. (June 01, 2016). Assaults by Mentally Disordered Offenders in Prison: Equity and Equivalence. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry: an Interdisciplinary Forum for Ethical and Legal Debate, 13, 2, 317-326.
The authors of this excerpt looks at the assaults and ill-treatment directed to offenders in solitary confinement rooms. They analyze the issue from a legal and ethical point of viewing labelling solitary confinement as unfair treatment that should not be done in prisons. Basically, this excerpt is very critical in supporting the study’s argument that youth inmates are unfairly treated in these centers.
Clancy, N. (2016). Prison food cutbacks have inmates complaining of sickness, malnutrition. CBC News. Retrieved 24 October 2016, from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/prison-food-after-cutbacks-called-disgusting-and-inadequate-by-b-c-inmates-1.2989657
According to the unfair treatment highlighted, Food rationing holds a higher position in terms of strength and weight. This is an investigative extract from the CBC news desk on life lived by young inmates in Canadian correlation facilities. For a fact, the article is an eye opener on the challenges faced by inmate’s correlation facilities and therefore supports our argument that young inmates are unfairly treated in these facilities.
Correctional Service of Canada,. (2015). Correctional Service of Canada – FORUM on Corrections Research. Csc-scc.gc.ca. Retrieved 24 October 2016, from http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/research/forum/e063/e063n-eng.shtml
Correctional Service of Canada is a national website that carries all information regarding the number, trends and challenges faced in these correction facilities. The resource is very important because it explores the laws and policies that surround correction activities in Canadian Correction facilities. Information in these reports gives a golden opportunity to defend the argument that youth inmates are unfairly treated in these correction centers.
Statistics Canada, (2015). Surveys and statistical programs – Corrections Key Indicator Report for Adults and Youth (CKIR).Www23.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 24 October 2016, from http://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&SDDS=3313&lang=en&db=imdb&adm=8&dis=2
The statistical and survey programs provided by Statistics Canada website National Resource controlled by governmental experts on population and census As a far as our study was concerned, this resource was very vital in providing numbers that would prove whether some allegation such as increased in suicidal rates or overcrowding were true. After the review, the resources has proved that increased in youth inmates in Canadian Prisons has increased overcrowding which is considered unfair treatment of inmates.
