BC Considers Building More Prisons
January 16, 2006.
Stark Raven News

The BC Solicitor General, John Les, is currently reviewing whether BC will be opening more prisons.

He recently stated that there is a significant amount of double bunking in prisons in the Lower Mainland. He noted that the problem of overcrowding is province wide, although it is worse on the coast than the interior.

Much of this overcrowding is due to BC liberal cutbacks. Starting in 2001, the BC Liberal government cut funding to the BC Corrections Branch. BC Corrections proceded to close all medium and minimum security prisons in BC. Instead of being moved into the community, prisoners were sent into maximum security prisons where they have been double and triple bunked. The government then proceded to sell off several of the closed prison sites.

The Solicitor General plans to make a recommendation about the construction of new prisons by the summer.