HARDLY SURPRISING!

Crime

The following quote on CTV's web site this past week was attributed
to University of Winnipeg criminologist Dr. Michael Weinrath.

"He isn't surprised by the violence inside the prison walls, violence
that had several people taken by ambulance from the prison. In an
institution there's going to be some vying for power and control over
the drug trade. There's going to be some violence from time to time."

That statement is surprising from two points of view. One is, it
shouldn't take an expert to know that prisons are violent places. To
a large extent the inmates are violent people so it shouldn't be a
surprise that they behave violently at times. The other surprise
though is the apparent admission of defeat on the drug trade front.
Surely most citizens would ask why there are drugs in prisons, let
alone competing factions trying to control the trade?

But citizens could be excused for being naive because we might also
wonder why inmates in prisons have conjugal visits, smoking, TV,
internet, email services and voting rights.

While few in Canada want to see a prison system where human rights
are neglected and where cruelty exists as a matter of course, the
vast majority of Canadians may well be surprised about how many
privileges inmates have.

As a society we should be shocked and even ashamed at certain aspects
of our prisons. For example, there's no excuse for overcrowding. For
decades both the federal and provincial governments have overcrowded
our prisons to nearly double their stated capacity. And yet when that
was pointed out in the 2007 Manitoba election by the PC Party of
Manitoba and by PC leader Hugh McFadyen, the media and opposing
parties mocked the idea of more prison space devoted to treatment and
rehab. It seems that many people would rather be in denial about the
extent of our problems than actually do something about them.

The recent problems at Stony Mountain and Headingly leave the tax
paying citizens shaking their head.

One recurring theme about troubles in prisons over the years is the
influence of gangs. Not a new problem, but still a problem nonetheless.

Many years ago, I asked the local RCMP about all the big motor bikes
passing through town. I was informed that it was Hell's Angels
members heading for Clear Lake for an annual bash. I was also told in
no uncertain terms that I didn't want to know what went on at those
bashes. Being young and naive, I asked why the police didn't go in
and put a stop to such activities. I was then informed that there was
no way the RCMP would take on such a task. The only group equipped to
handle such a task, I was told, would be the army.

Perhaps we should have sent in the army as the Hell's Angels have
apparently done a fine job of spawning many wannabe gangs. Many gang
names are attached to various kinds of crime. Some seem to specialize
in drugs, some in prostitution and porn, some in cigarette smuggling.
What we know and what we hear are likely only the tip of the iceberg.

Until we actually admit that we have a crime problem, until all of
society admits there are problems, we will continue to fight a losing
battle. We don't really have a choice in the war on crime; the battle
may never be over but it must continually be fought.