Head of Prison Review Has Experience with Privatization
June 11, 2007
Stark Raven News

A former Tory politician with experience privatizing prisons has been appointed the head of a new panel reviewing the federal prison system.

Rob Sampson is the former solicitor general and minister responsible for privatization in the Ontario government of Mike Harris. He was responsible for the introduction of the first private prison in Canada. The 5-year contract with an American company to run the prison was ended by the current Ontario Liberal government.

Despite this appointment, Stockwell Day has said that the government is not considering privately run prisons.

But critics are skeptical. They charge that it is all part of the governments tough on crime agenda. This tough on crime agenda will significantly increase the prison population. For example, a bill limiting the use of conditional sentencing has already become law. Another bill introducing more mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes is currently before the senate.

Part of the mandate of the prison review panel’s mandate is to look at prison expansion. So far, the government has set aside $250 million dollars for the construction of new prisons.

Other priorities for the panel include giving more voice to victims of crime and arming guards with more powerful weapons. This usually means and increase in criminalization and more repression and worse conditions for prisoners.

The final report of the panel is expected in the fall.