FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 26, 2000

Campaign launched against privatized prison escorts
Government plan more dangerous, 81 per cent say: poll

TORONTO - The union representing Ontario correctional officers is launching a campaign to keep community escorts of jail prisoners safe.

The campaign comes in response to a Ministry of Corrections plan to use lone private security guards to escort jail prisoners to medical and dental appointments in the community. A recent poll of 1,002 Ontarians shows that 81 per cent of those with an opinion believe the Ministry plan is more dangerous than the current system. The poll, conducted March 23 - April 5 by Vector Research and Development, is accurate within 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

The union campaign will start today with advertising and community outreach in selected cities across the province.

“Most people are not aware that the government is doing this,” said Don Ford, a correctional officer and spokesperson for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. “When they find out, they agree that it’s a stupid idea.

“What it all boils down to is this: when you’re sitting in the doctor’s office, or the dentist’s office, who do you want between your family and a murderer or a rapist - two fully-trained, fully-equipped professional peace officers, or one private citizen?”

Currently, Ontario correctional officers conduct approximately 20,000 community escorts per year. As ordered in 1998 by the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Adjudicator, each prisoner is escorted by two fully-equipped, fully-trained, professional correctional officers.

The plan to cut costs by moving to a single private security guard could take effect across Ontario as soon as June 1.

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