Jails to house more inmates
New cells will be in portable-like trailers, to be replaced by permanent buildings
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Danna Johnson, Maple Ridge Times

There are more inmates than space in B.C. and as a result, Solicitor-General John Les says Maple Ridge is destined to receive more prisoners.

Fraser Regional Correctional Centre has a maximum capacity of 422 inmates, but as of the end of June was housing 470 men. Alouette Correctional Centre for Women was built to house 144 inmates and is also routinely at capacity.

To cope with the lack of space at FRCC, Les told Maple Ridge council that 100 new spaces will soon be added, and about 24 new spaces will be created at ACCW in two 12-bed structures. The cells would be constructed in temporary, portable-like trailers, eventually to be replaced by permanent structures.

The permanent structures would be stand-alone buildings, and would typically house inmates who participate in the work gang program.

"If we started [building] today we'd be looking at two to three years before that capacity was built," Les said during council's workshop meeting. "We don't time to wait for that capacity."

Along with the increased capacity comes increased dependence on utilities, which Les indicated would need to be addressed before the permanent structure would be built.

Currently, FRCC and ACCW are hooked to septic fields, but with so many more inmates and staff at the facility, extending sewer to the area would be a priority, and one, Les said, the province is keen on entering discussions with the municipality on.

While the majority of council seemed generally on side with the plans, Coun. Linda King worried about the need for more cells and questioned why, despite the fact the crime rates are lower, the number of inmates is on the rise.

Les replied that without drugs, the province would be closing jails rather than expanding them.

"I really want to see us get on this," he said. "I would really like to see your energy to go to treatment."