FIX PRISON SHORTAGES BEFORE ADDING TO THEM

Re: Tories propose paying prisoners to reform, June 17. Before Public
Safety Minister Peter Van Loan embarks on this "reward-for-rehab
plan," he should familiarize himself with the recent report of the
federal correctional investigator which says program shortages in the
prison system are so severe they have become a threat to public
safety: "Too many offenders spend their time in prison without
getting the correctional programs they need," the report says.

"The result is ongoing violence and despair on the inside and
increased risk of offending once released."

First things first, Mr. Minister. Fix this problem which is, needless
to say, another black mark on Canada's increasingly flawed criminal
justice system.

Emile Therien,

Ottawa