CRIME AND PUNISHMENT?

Your Tax Dollars Are Going To Pay Claims To Inmates

Are you an avid tax crusader, one who scrutinizes carefully the way in
which your tax dollars are being spent and you are not afraid to be
vocal in protest when you see your hard-earned money go towards public
causes that you don't particularly support?

And are you tough on crime, feeling that our justice system is far too
lenient and that convicted felons in this country are mollycoddled
rather than getting their just desserts?

If you answered yes to both of those precursors, you're going to hate
this:

Canadian taxpayers have coughed up more than $1 million to cons in the
last two years to settle lawsuits over intrusive drug searches,
exposure to second-hand smoke, inadequate medical treatment and
injuries suffered during brawls behind bars.

Records show the Justice Department closed the book on 178 lawsuits in
2004, 2005 and the first six months of this year, resulting in payouts
of $1.2 million to convicted criminals, according to a Sun Media
report from Ottawa today.

Many of the specific payments listed in summary reports of legal
action against the Crown, obtained by Sun Media through access to
information, were blacked out. Justice spokesman Christian Girouard
said settlements made outside court orders are considered "private
information."

The documents show inmate Jason Pothier received an undisclosed
settlement last year after suing for $25 million. Pothier said he
deserved monetary compensation for loss of health because Correctional
Service of Canada policy denied him methadone treatment for a heroin
habit he developed in prison.

Feeding his addiction with dirty needles led him to contract HIV and
hepatitis C, and he said CSC acted negligently because his health care
did not meet acceptable standards of care and therefore infringed his
charter rights.

Records also show Tracy Curry, doing time for second-degree murder,
received $13,500 after suing an Ontario prison for conducting a body
search after sniffer dogs detected drugs on her.

Another inmate got $5,000 for exposure to second-hand smoke, while yet
another reaped $732,000 after an inmate assault.

Toronto lawyer Charles Roach said inmates have the right to safe and
secure care while in custody.

Many lawsuits come from sex offenders or child abusers who didn't have
enough "protective custody" to prevent attacks from fellow inmates
but others have claimed damages for discrimination based on sexual
orientation or because religious dietary needs haven't been met, he
said.

Steve Sullivan, president of the Canadian Resource Center for Victims
of Crime, called it "outrageous" that criminals have reaped
financial windfalls at taxpayer expense while victims are left with a
lifetime of grief.

While the rights of all individuals must be protected in our society,
we have to give our heads a collective shake on this one.

Who said crime doesn't pay?