FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 24, 2001

Probation & parole officers protest public safety crisis in community corrections

Ontario Probation and Parole Officers, employed by the Ministry of Correctional Services to supervise the approximately 70,000 criminal offenders within the community, are converging for a protest at the constituency office of their Minister, Rob Sampson.

Liberal Justice Critic Dave Levac and NDP MPP Peter Kormos will join the Probation Officers to speak to the concerns they raise on behalf of the taxpayers of Ontario as well as the employees within the Probation and Parole Offices across Ontario.  The protest will take place at Sampson’s Mississauga office at 1100 Central Parkway W.  at noon on Monday October 1, 2001. 

The concerned officers will protest the serious public safety crisis that has eroded the community side of Corrections over the past decade.  Critical staff shortages, crushing workloads, rapid technology and policy change as well as insufficient support and funding of corrections have led to a lack of effective offender supervision and rehabilitation, thereby jeopardizing the personal safety of the public at large and the probation staff.

These issues have been virtually ignored or side stepped by Sampson, his predecessors, and senior bureaucrats within the Ministry, despite the loud outcry, and official complaints that have been forthcoming from the Officers for several years.  

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Further information including background information can be obtained by contacting:

Gordon Longhi, Probation & Parole Officer, (416) 436-7257 cell, (905) 677-3143 (Wed – Fri) or (for weekend of Sept 29-30 only)

Stephen Giles, Probation/Parole Officer,(416) 537-0306