TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO'LL TAKE IT

Editor:

(Response to May 3 letter; 'Housing, not more prisons').

In response to this letter, although be it factual as Mr. Hodge may
see it, it critically lacks in truth, realism and fact.

The prisons are not full of addicts only, but of others who have
committed violent crimes and are prolific offenders. Yes, these
people will be let out someday to, and will reoffend. Some are drug
users inside and outside of prison. I spent 15 years in Corrections
and for Mr. Hodge to say there "are no drugs in prison" is such gross
naivety. Inmates will pack drugs in anyway they can. One word for Mr.
Hodge: "suitcase." Please feel free to look it up.

Corrections freely gives out methadone to inmates who meet the
criteria, however, this is abused at times. There are also in-custody
deaths due to illicit contraband drug use in prison, as well as deaths
from overdoses of methadone, as occurred in a Maple Ridge prison in
2010.

Mr. Hodge goes on to say, "plus there is counselling, food and
shelter." Thanks for the most obvious of observations. Though what he
continually fails to realize is that the courts can order substance
abuse counselling, in custody and after the expiration of their
sentence while on probation, however it is not enforcable because of
the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and Corrections would be sued.

If an inmate can take legal action against the Correctional system for
failing to provide a dictionary and win a five-figure amount, there is
no end to what an inmate can sue over, incurring expensive legal costs
and settlements that the taxpayers are footing the bill for.

Mr. Hodge feels that permanent shelter is not provided for the addict
after release. It sure is--they are called halfway houses, treatment
centres, all of which classification officers can recommend as
mandatory placement.

Some addicted inmates placed into these facilities fall back into old
habits and leave these facilities to "chase the dragon," smoke, snort
or shoot up. More than one-in-three convicted criminals will not
successfully complete their sentence. It costs Corrections Canada
$110,223 to keep a male inmate in a maximum-security institution for a
year ($150,867 for a woman). Medium and minimum-security inmates cost
more than $70,000 a year.

Finally, Mr. Hodge, if a drug- addicted criminal breaks into your home
and steals some of your prized possessions, or maybe physically
assaults you or sexually assaults a female family member, honestly,
ask yourself if you would stand up in court and ask the judge to not
give them jail time, but treatment instead. Are you kidding me?

Chris Stayko

Chilliwack