TAXPAYERS MAY NOT GET STUNG WITH COST OF PRISON TATTOOS

Conservatives May Close Prison Tattoo Parlours

Taxpayers may be off the hook for prison tattoos.

The federal government is looking at turfing the controversial prison
tattoo program, according to Randy White, former federal justice critic.

He issued a press release and told The Abbotsford News that he has
"inside" information the federal government intends to cancel the
tattoo pilot project.

Six federal institutions in Canada - including Matsqui Institution
and the women's prison (Fraser Valley Institution) on King Road - are
taking part in the regulated tattoo parlours.

The project is estimated to cost $3.7 million over a six-year period
and Stockwell Day, Public Safety Minister, is reportedly considering
other options.

White said he would be happy to see the end of the prison tattoo
parlors, saying they came from "a wasteful, useless program in the
first place."

The other problem, he said, is that taxpayers and the federal
government may be legally responsible if inmates contract AIDS or Hep
C from these tattoo parlours while in prison.

White retired from politics last year and is now the president of the
Drug Prevention Network of Canada.

Federal prison officials, meanwhile, say they haven't heard anything
about stopping the program.

Maria Dalziel, assistant warden of Fraser Valley Institution, said
inmates are enthusiastic about the tattoo program and they believe it
should continue, to prevent the transmission of diseases.

The purpose of the project, according to Correctional Service of
Canada (CSC), is to reduce the rate of infectious diseases in prisons
in a safe and supervised setting.

About 35 per cent of approximately 2,000 incarcerated offenders in
the Pacific Region (B.C.) have Hepatitis C.

The reality, says CSC, is that offenders are doing tattoos illegally
in prisons using crude sharp objects and sharing used needles.

The goal is to cut down the amount of illicit tattoo activities in
prisons where almost half of the prisoners in Canada are involved
with the "body art."

A sticking point for White, however, is that taxpayers are
subsidizing prison tattoos, which he said only cost inmates $5 each.

White said CSC should make it a priority to encourage removing
tattoos from offenders, because future employers are leery hiring
people with offensive tattoos.

He took prisons authorities to task.

It's important that the prison system bring back proven drug programs
related to treatment, prevention and enforcement, rather than getting
into the tattoo business, White said.

Randie Scott, Matsqui Institution assistant warden, said he has not
heard a word about the project possibly being cancelled.

In fact, the program, which started in Matsqui last August, is going
well, Scott said, adding that he believes it is having positive benefits.

The project is to be evaluated this fall after operating for one year.

Guards think it's ridiculous.

John Williams, president of the Union of Canadian Correctional
Officers, Pacific Region, said guards are against giving tattoos to prisoners.

"It's a total waste of taxpayers' money and they aren't stopping
illegal tattooing, anyhow," Williams said.

"All it does is give the inmates more access to needles, and you
can't tell me that some of those needles aren't going missing."

White said the federal government is on track putting together a new
national drug strategy, which will get rid of unsuccessful, expensive
programs that harm the positive programs of education, prevention and
treatment.

"Let's come to grips with real harm reduction," White said.

"It's about time people are helped out of their drug addictions,
instead of helping them to maintain their habit,' White said.

He said CSC continues to ignore the fear of guards that inmates may
hide the needles and use them as weapons.

About 3,000 offenders are diagnosed with Hepatitis C in federal
institutions across Canada which is 30 times the rate of the general
population.

Several hundred offenders in Canada are also diagnosed with HIV.