FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 17, 2000

Public thinks private jails are morally wrong: poll

TORONTO - A large majority of Ontarians oppose private jails on moral grounds, a new public opinion poll shows.

In a poll conducted March 23 - April 5 by Vector Research and Development, 71 per cent of those with an opinion said they opposed the provincial government privatizing prisons. When asked why, respondents agreed strongly (70 per cent of those with an opinion) with the statement, “It is wrong for the government to use our tax dollars to allow private companies to make profits from the prison system.”

“Ontarians believe very strongly that no one should profit from crime,” observed Leah Casselman, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, sponsor of the poll. “A large majority of people just can’t stomach the idea of victims of crime being used to pad to some corporation’s bottom line. It’s just not right.”

The poll of 1,002 Ontarians is considered accurate to within 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Casselman said she hopes Corrections Minister Rob Sampson will listen to public opinion when he visits the town of Penetanguishene tomorrow night. Citizens and municipal councils in the area have been loud in their opposition to the Minister’s planned privatization of the 1,200-bed superjail being built in the town.

Tomorrow’s visit to Penetanguishene will be Sampson’s first since his Ministry announced the privatization Nov. 19.

Large majorities of Ontarians believe that public jails are safer and more accountable to the public, the poll also shows.

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For more information: Don Ford (416) 723-8430