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June 22, 2001

MTC loses facility in home state

The private firm selected to run the Penetanguishene superjail no longer has a facility in the state of Utah.

Representatives from Management and Training Corporation (MTC) of Ogden, Utah, have been quick to boast that they have never lost a contract to run a correctional facility. Those boasts are now history due to a decision by the Utah Department of Corrections (DOC) to close the Promontory Correctional Facility.

Citing budget holdbacks, the Utah DOC has decided to close the seven-year-old minimum-security prison instead of forging ahead with plans to convert the facility to an all women’s prison. The prison will close on July 1. As a result, MTC is left without a facility in its home state.

MTC officials said that they were “surprised and disappointed” by the decision. Although MTC claims that Promontory was the most cost-effective prison in the state, rumours are surfacing that the closure wasn’t just about money.

It is reported that key state senators were fiercely opposed to a private company running a women’s prison. It is also rumoured that there was widespread drug use among the inmates at the facility and an unusually high staff turnover rate.

Regardless of the reason, it is extremely noteworthy that the alleged “shining jewel” of private corrections has been ousted in its own back yard. We doubt that MTC will use this in future promotional literature.

Keele P&P conditions slammed by critic

Deteriorating working conditions at the Keele Street Probation and Parole office have prompted a letter of concern from Liberal Corrections Critic David Levac. Levac toured the office last week and was appalled at the environment that the staff were working in. “This office was supposed to be relocated,” Levac said. “Now the government says that it doesn’t have the money.”

The following is the letter sent by Levac to Corrections Minister Rob Sampson:

Dear Minister Sampson:

On June 13, 2001 I had the opportunity to tour the Keele Street Probation & Parole office and I am writing to you to discuss working conditions that I witnessed during my visit.

The first thing I noticed upon arrival was the health and safety violations that were evident throughout the office. Not only were there wires hanging from the walls but staff informed me that they have had a mould and asbestos problem for some time now. The washrooms were filthy and the staff do not even have a proper lunchroom, which is being used as a storage room.

Most notably were the safety concerns that should be addressed immediately. Several things I noted were how narrow the hallways were, making it extremely difficult for those in wheelchairs to maneuver, the lack of mirrors in dead corners, lack of proper lighting in the parking lot, and the glass that separates the staff from the offenders is neither bullet proof nor shatter proof. These are not the proper working conditions for people who deal with threats and safety concerns on a daily basis.

This working environment is not only detrimental to the staff but to the offenders as well. Crowded conditions and lack of space can result in breeches of confidentiality, thus hindering the rehabilitation process.

I urge you to look into this matter and take action in moving the office to a new location with the proper working conditions in place as quickly as possible.

I await your response and if you have any questions regarding the Keele street office, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Respectfully,

Dave Levac, MPP, Brant

Billboard generating reaction

The billboard exposing the colossal tax break being granted to private prison firm Management and Training Corporation has produced some amazing results.

Sharon Dion, chair of Citizens Against Private Prisons, has been overwhelmed with calls and visits from area residents.

“Community reaction has been incredible,” Dion said. “I’m shocked at the number of people who had no idea the government was giving a U.S. company this kind of hand out. I guess this just proves that there is no such thing as repeating a message too often.”

The billboard, located on Highway 11 in Orillia, is black with high visibility yellow lettering. It also features a prominent picture of Simcoe North Tory MPP Garfield Dunlop. There have also been reports that the board has been quite effective at keeping crows out of the field it’s located in, but those reports are unconfirmed.

Resolution Watch

Additions to the list of municipalities opposing privatized correctional services are rapidly piling up.

This week, eight new names have been added. They are: the Town of Amherstburg (south of Windsor), the Township of McNab/Braeside (west of Ottawa), the County of Prince Edward (Belleville area), the Municipality of Moonbeam (east of Kapuskasing), the City of Belleville, the Township of Madawaska Valley (near Barry’s Bay), the Township of Kerns (near New Liskeard) and the Township of Hudson (near New Liskeard). The total now stands at 214.

We again salute the excellent (and, we point out, solitary) work of the Resolution Warrior, Len Mason of Local 737 (Thunder Bay Jail).

For campaign information, call Don Ford (ext. 442) or Pam Doig (ext. 687) at 1-800-268-7376 or (416) 443-8888.
e-mail: dford@opseu.org or pdoig@opseu.org

Ontario Public Service Employees Union
100 Lesmill Road, Toronto, Ontario M3B 3P8
www.opseu.org

Original authorized for distribution by Leah Casselman, president.

Ontario Public Service Employees Union, 100 Lesmill Rd. Toronto, ON M3B 3P8  (416) 443-8888  www.opseu.org