The Right to Know

Had a good interview with Rob Tripp of the Kingston Whig Standard yesterday. He was interested in my take on the amendments to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act. Here's the article:

The Right to Know

The sister of a murdered Gananoque woman is encouraged by parole and prison changes announced yesterday by the federal government.

Ottawa will give victims and families of victims greater access to information about imprisoned criminals.

"I think it's a real step in the right direction," said Carolyn Gardner. "This is information that I think any family wants to know."

Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan laid out plans to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.

Victims would get:
* Advance notice of the transfer of convicts to minimum-security prisons.
* Explanation for transfers and temporary absences from prison.
* Information about the participation of convicts in prison programs.
* Information about prison infractions.

Gardner wants to know more about Ralph Ernest Power, the man who murdered her sister. In 1981, Power beat Sheryl Gardner to death with a hammer in her Toronto apartment. He schemed his way in by masquerading as a telephone repairman.

More inside:Reforms to benefit victims of crime.Page 10 The vivacious 20-year-old woman had moved to Toronto from Gananoque to pursue a promising career as a model.

Power was convicted in 1982 of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, with no chance of parole for 25 years. He has been in prison since his conviction.

Gardner was notified within the past year that Power was transferred to medium-security Warkworth Institution in Campbellford.

"I don't know why he got moved," she noted, a situation that would be remedied under the changes announced yesterday.

Gardner has dedicated herself to keeping Power locked up and to changing what she believes are Canada's lax parole laws.

"In our case, Ralph Power has been transferred numerous times across the country and we never understand why," she said. "You want to know the status of these people, you want to to keep tabs on them."

The family was offended once, when they learned, after the fact, that Power has been shipped to medium-security Bath Institution.

"That was just so close to Gananoque where Sheryl is buried and I just felt it was really insensitive and I wondered why there -- 'Why have you moved him there?' -- there's places all across the country," she recalled.

Gardner said getting more information will help families provide more meaningful impact statements at parole hearings.

"I don't know what he's been up to for the last 28 years, I don't have a clue," she said.
"At least if I knew, I (wouldn't) stand there with my victim-impact statement and say things that might not be true."

She thinks it's in the best interest of offenders that families know more.

"It may help people feel better, that this person is actually taking some proactive programs that might help him or her become a better citizen," she said.

The Tories also plan to stiffen prison discipline and provide police with power to arrest released offenders, without warrants, if they are in breach of conditions.

"This government is taking a new approach to corrections by putting a greater focus on public safety," Van Loan said in a release.

"We are also putting the rights of victims first, by proposing changes to help keep them better informed."

Van Loan was not available for an interview.

The changes were panned by Craig Jones, executive director of the John Howard Society of Canada, a national organization that works with offenders and lobbies government.
He said the changes are designed to mollify hard-core former Reform party members of the Conservative party.

"In order to go back to the electorate and say, 'Look, we've paid off our promises' ... they've got to go through and make what I think are changes largely for the sake of appearance but I don't think they're substantive in nature," Jones said.

The measures seem to tilt toward what is known as the penal harm movement, the notion that prisoners should be punished, in addition to being locked up, he said.

"By and large, I think Canada has held off the worst elements of it, but I think this is a nod in that direction," Jones said.

The government also pledged to create a national advisory committee on victims issues. It will give victims the opportunity to provide input into policies and procedures that impact them.

Copyright © 2009 The Whig Standard

CCRA amendments show improved support for victims of crime

Very happy to hear about the government's announcement to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act. It was just announced today and it involves amendments to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA). The proposed legislation includes the following key reforms in four main areas: enhancing sharing of information with victims, enhancing offender responsibility and accountability; strengthening the management of offenders and their reintegration; and, modernizing disciplinary actions. What it all boils down to is better support for victims of crime...and these changes are a big step in the right direction.

Background: Although the CCRA clearly recognizes the interests of victims of crime and the role they play in the correctional and conditional release process, victims and victims’ advocates have voiced dissatisfaction with the current provisions and have called for enhancements. Therefore, a victim’s right to attend and make statements at National Parole Board hearings will be enshrined in law.

Additionally, the CCRA will be amended to expand the information that may be disclosed to victims by CSC and the National Parole Board (NPB). This includes:

• providing information on the reason(s) for offender transfers with, whenever possible, advance notice of transfers to minimum security institutions;
• disclosing information on offender program participation and any convictions for serious disciplinary offences;
• sharing the reasons for a temporary absence from a correctional facility; and,
• providing guardians/caregivers of dependents of victims who are deceased, ill or
  otherwise incapacitated with the same information that victims themselves can receive.

Another big change relates to when offenders withdraw their participation in a parole hearing 14 days or less before the scheduled date. Now, with the new amendments, the Board may proceed with a review and decisions of their case. This ensures that victims will no longer travel long distances to attend a parole hearing which is then cancelled at the last minute. Victims will also be able to request information on the reasons for a waiver of a parole hearing. I know from experience that this information we all want. Power has waived two hearings and we can only speculate why. To be accurately informed will be huge.

In addition to the proposed reforms to maximize the knowledge and access to services offered to victims of crime, a National Advisory Committee on Victims Issues co-chaired by the Departments of Justice and Public Safety will be created. This committee will give victims the opportunity to provide input into policies and procedures that impact victims and victims’ services.

There's more info at http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/media/nr/2009/nr20090616-1-eng.aspx

Reporters are on this already - spoke with Rob Tripp at the Kingston Whig and have a 4:30 interview with CTV News.