Calgary Police Chief pushing "safe jails"

[Trojan97]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/...957/story.html

Rick Hanson says he’s pitched the province on the creation of so-called ‘safe jails’ to deal with addicts who commit crime to feed a habit and cycle through the justice system like it's a revolving door of arrest, jail and release.

“We think that there should be one jail that’s runs as a secure detox facility,” Hanson said Sunday, after speaking at a brunch event held by the Lion’s Club. “The numbers of addicted folks and mentally ill people that wind up in the jails in prisons is such that it's in need of a different approach.”



This is an extremely bright idea IMO. It's sure to be controversial but this type of progressive thinking in Calgary/Alberta is a great sign. Everything about the concept of "safe jails" points to a steep reduction in recidivism rate amongst addicts which will alleviate some of the strain on our prisons and health care system. It's obviously not going to work for everyone but I think it's a very positive alternative to our current prison system.

Thoughts?

[Vulcan]

I agree, a lot of criminals are breaking the law because of their addictions. If this helps even a few it should pay off for society as well as the addict and his family and friends.

[fredr123]

By all accounts the drug courts have been well-received and have pretty successful. This could be a great next step.

[CaptainCrunch]

I read some stories about the drug courts this weekend and they are doing a great job. And I have no problem with secure jails where prisoners are detoxed and treated. I don't know how it would work for violent offenders though.

I would think that defense lawyers would be pushing for every one of their clients to be sentenced to this program to get shorter sentences and possibly easier time.

[monocle]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I read some stories about the drug courts this weekend and they are doing a great job. And I have no problem with secure jails where prisoners are detoxed and treated. I don't know how it would work for violent offenders though.

I would think that defense lawyers would be pushing for every one of their clients to be sentenced to this program to get shorter sentences and possibly easier time.

Unless the addict assaulted someone for drug-money, the person would be treated the same as any other piece of #### (I hope)
If the addict stole a TV to sell for drug money, off to the "Safe Jail".

This is the kind of thing that could have a ripple effect, allowing more cops to go after the "real" criminals, while getting some of the addicts off of the treadmill, so to speak.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I read some stories about the drug courts this weekend and they are doing a great job. And I have no problem with secure jails where prisoners are detoxed and treated. I don't know how it would work for violent offenders though.

I would think that defense lawyers would be pushing for every one of their clients to be sentenced to this program to get shorter sentences and possibly easier time.

Right now, if you're convicted of impaired driving, you can seek a curative discharge. You would be required to undergo therapy and counseling and submit to a host of other conditions. The terms of your sentence can be one to three years (compared with the one year license suspension for a first time offender) If you abide by all that is imposed upon you, the end result is a discharge and no conviction for impaired driving. I've had a few people inquire about this as a possible sentencing alternative but every single one of them figured it would be easier to take their lumps with a regular sentence, continue imbibing and go on with their life rather than make a genuine effort to kick the habit over several years.

If they are serious about requiring offenders in a safe jail to take part in treatment and being genuinely interested in detoxing, I'm not sure getting sentenced to a safe jail would be "easier" time at all.

[Drury18]

This is brilliant and actually a friend of mine went through a similar option several months ago with good success. He was brought into the hospital pretty messed up and had enough on him to be charged with possession along with another minor charge, however the police opted to drop the charges if he went into and successfully completed a detox and rehabilitation program. As the Cops put to me and the other person who brought him in, this is a guy in his early 30's, no prior arrests or charges, was being respectful and honest when they were questioning him and had held down a job requiring two college degree's. Putting him in jail to smarten him up didn't seem like the most effective method and rehab will probably scare him enough to keep him off the drugs.

He did 30 days detox in the hospital, a 90 days rehabilitation program and currently finishing up 90 days on an outpatient follow up program. It seems to have been enough to smarten him up so far.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Generally speaking anything that isn't locked up and throw away the key seems to have the gut reaction that it's an "easier" time. For example, if you're found not guilty because of insanity, yet from what I've heard, actual prison is an easier time than having to go to a criminal psychiatric facility.

Frankly I think a secure detox facility is a great idea. The system is set up for rehabilitation. I'm not sure what the statistics for re-offending on drug or drug related charges are, but I would think they would be relatively high. Getting proper treatment would go a long way to help reduce those numbers.

[Rathji]

I am a firm believer that a large portion of our prison population would benefit more from rehabilitation polices rather than punitive policies. I think, and maybe the number support my thoughts, but I don't recall for sure, that is would be cheaper in the long run since less people would be re-offend once released.

[TylerSVT]

All the studies point to this being a positive solution. Hopefully it works!