How To Work With Canadian Inmates. Is There Any Differences…? Time is just TIME…Right? Wrong!

How To Work With

Canadian Inmates

Is There Any Differences…?

Time is just TIME…Right? Wrong!

Correctional Systems

American

1. Misdemeanor Offences2. Felony Offences

3. State Sentences4. Federal Offences

Canadian

1. Summary Offences2. Indictable Offences

3. Provincial Sentencesa. Two Years Less a Day

4. Federal Sentencesa. Two Years to Life

Correctional Systems (Contd.)

American

• Professes Capitol Punishment

• Some States Carry the Death Penalty

• Life Sentence1. After serving a life sentence

a convicted person goes free.

Canadian

• Does Not Endorse Capitol Punishment

• No Province can Carry Out Death Penalty

• Life Sentence1. Any person convicted of a

life sentence actually reports to a Parole Officer for Life even if or after he/she gets out of prison.

Correctional Services of Canada

• Indeterminate Sentences: – Lifers or Life Sentence holders

– Report before the National Parole Board (NPB) three years before their Parole eligibility date i.e. Life twenty-five years can only report after serving twenty-two years and every second year thereafter if unsuccessful

• Determinate Sentences: – Prisoners only complete two-third

sentence– This is called Statutory Release– Conditions placed on them by the NPB

1. Could stay at a Half-Way House 2. May have to take programs and/or both

3. But must report to a Parole Officer until 4. End of the sentence or on the Warrant Expiry Date (WED)

DID YOU KNOW • Canada’s incarceration rate by comparison per

100,000 general population:Denmark 64

Finland 70

France 85

Germany 95

Switzerland 68

Canada 116116England 139

United States 702

Correctional Systems (Contd.)

• United States has more Prisoners than CanadaMore Women, More Men & More Young People

• Crimes are more violent in The United States• More Time spent in prison in the United States• Both Correctional Systems are inundated with

GANGS• More Deaths Occur in United States Prisons!

BASIC FACTSBASIC FACTSABOUT THE

c.s.c. c.s.c.

((Correctional Services of CanadaCorrectional Services of Canada))

DID YOU KNOW…

• There were approximately 2.8 million crimes reported to police in 2003

• During 2002-03 only 4,281 offenders were sentenced to Federal jurisdiction

Total Expenditures: 2003-04

• $1.5 Billion

• $976M – Salaries• $110M – Capital Exp.• $435M – Operating

• Represents 1% of total spending by CSC & NPB (Fed Gov)

Average Annual Cost: Inmate

• Women - $150,867 (multi-level security)

• Men: • $110, 223 (Maximum)• $71,640 (Medium)• $74,431 (Minimum)

**Women are fewer in number**

• $19, 755 (Stat /Parolee)

Employment by CSC

• 14,906 indeterminate

• 15,900 Total

Federal Correctional Facilities

Levels Atlantic Quebec Ontario Prairies Pacific Totals

MAX 1 3 2 1 1 8

MED 2 5 5 3* 3 18

MIN 1 3 4 6 3 17

MULTI 2 2 1 4 2 11

Community 4 6 3 3 1 17

Totals 10 19 15 17 10 71

Penitentiaries (of various levels) including treatment centers & annexes

54

Community Correctional Centers 17Parole Offices 71Addictions Research Center 1Regional Headquarters & Staff Colleges 5Correctional Management Learning Ctr 1National Headquarters 1CSC partners with community-based, non-government organizations that run community-based residential facilities

200

Offender Populations: 2003-04

Admissions

• Men: 7,308 (of which 1,317 were aboriginal)

• Women: 386(of which 106 were aboriginal)

How Many Inmates: April 11, 2004

Levels Men Women

Max 1,737 (14%) of which 367 (17%) aboriginal

39 (9%) of which 13 (12%) aboriginal

Med 7,359 (61%) of which 1,387 (64%) aboriginal

170 (45%) of which 58 (54%) aboriginal

Min 2,226 (18%) of which 318 (15%) aboriginal

140 (37%) of which 27 (25%) aboriginal

Net yet classified

712 (6%) of which 111 (5%) aboriginal

33 (9%) of which 10 (9%) aboriginal

Total 12,034 (100%) which 2,193 (18%) aboriginal

379 (100%) which 108 (28%) aboriginal

So How Do You Minister…?

• Prayerfully• Respectfully• Sincerely• Gratefully• Humbly• And with LOVE

“No Greater Love has No man, than he gives his life for a friend…”

How…?• Prison Ministry in Canada is not as charismatic

as in the United States• It is more Mellow• Not really designed for “Rallies” etc..• But FIRST need to establish a good relationship

with the Chaplain: …you “serve at the pleasure” of the Chaplain

• …and sound relationship with the inmates

Be Genuine in Approach

• Seek their Well Being at all times• Anchor it in the Good News of Jesus Christ • One step and One inmate at a time• As the relationship develops the inmates will:

Ask questions about your faith Why you believe what you do? How you pray the way you do?Yes, THEY WILL SEE AND NOTE THE DIFFERENCES!

Be Patient…

• Remember, all you have to do is show up• The Holy Spirit will do the rest• …In His own timing• The meeting is between them and God• You are an instrument of His Peace• Therefore, make yourself right with God• Follow His leading and in all wisdom

Be Prayerful…

• Pray before you enter the prison• Pray before you start your service• Pray during your service• Finish your service with prayer• Remember to pray for the inmates present• Pray for the inmates not present• Pray for the guards and the staff• Pray for the institution/prison – those in charge

Be Vigilant…

• Changes will come• It must come

through YOU first!• Then you will see the

miracles ahead• Why…?• God is Faithful!

Miracles can and still happen…!

God never sleeps nor slumbers…He blesses and continues to bless us, despite ourselves!

As Stewarts…

• Of God greatest commodity …humankind!

• We must Lead as we have been Led.

• By the Master Shepherd, Jesus!

Contact Information• Pastor Oliver Johnson, Correctional Chaplain • Edmonton Institution• P.O. Box 2290• 21611 Meridian Street• Edmonton, AB, T5J 3H7• Phone no: (780) 472-4918• Fax no: (780) 495-6304

• Email: [email protected] [email protected]