Debates of March 9, 2005 (day 52)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Justice and I’d like to ask the Minister of Justice, going back to the petition I talked about in my Member’s statement, the fact that 98 inmates at North Slave Correctional Centre have signed a petition calling for an addiction treatment centre to be re-opened here in the Northwest Territories. I’m wondering what the Minister can tell me about how his department, the Department of Justice, works with Health and Social Services in trying to find out why inmates are in the correctional system and how we might be able to be proactive in trying not to have them come back. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 578-15(3): Factors Of Incarceration

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the changes in the correctional system that we’re trying to implement as we’ve moved into the new facility is a new approach, more of a case management approach where we have workers who work with individuals who try and assess what their problems might be and what their specific needs might be. The department does purchase space and programming from the Salvation Army. It’s an average of 10 beds a day to assist people making the transition from being in jail to being free again. The programming there is life skills and substance abuse programming to try and deal with people’s problems.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 578-15(3): Factors Of Incarceration

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m just wondering, the Minister didn’t mention whether or not there’s any dialogue that happens between his department, the Department of Justice, and Health and Social Services, in terms of trying to find out why inmates are in jail and what we can do as a government to try to keep them out of there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 578-15(3): Factors Of Incarceration

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, we’re trying to use more and more of a case management approach. It’s taking some time to get that worked around, but, yes, the Department of Health and Social Services and Education, Culture and Employment are brought into the counselling as necessary. If you have somebody who’s dealing with an individual to try and find where their challenges are, then other resources can be brought to the table as necessary. As I said, we’re in the early stages of this, but that’s the goal with this programming is to try and improve the availability of counselling from all of our resources.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 578-15(3): Factors Of Incarceration

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Minister is mentioning the fact that there’s counselling that’s taking place now between staff and inmates and they’re trying to find out problems and why the inmates are in prison, maybe the Minister could give us some type of idea of what the numbers are. North Slave Correctional Centre, for example, of inmates that are in there because of addictions problems. If this work is being done, the Minister should know that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 578-15(3): Factors Of Incarceration

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t say how many are in any facility because of addictions problems. I can say that the vast majority of inmates in the Northwest Territories were under the influence of alcohol when the crime was committed. So that alcohol is still the biggest problem that we face. That would tend to indicate that might be the area where addictions would be the biggest issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 578-15(3): Factors Of Incarceration

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the fact that the inmates at North Slave Correctional Centre have come forward with a petition identifying the need for addiction treatment centres, I’m wondering if the Minister can give us some kind of indication today whether or not he’ll look at a survey or a study of the inmate population here in the Northwest Territories that we can look at trying to find out why they’re in prison, finding common themes and asking them what we might be able to do as a government to help keep them out of jail. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 578-15(3): Factors Of Incarceration

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Keeping people from coming back to jail is one of the major focuses of the corrections department. Yes, we will work with inmates. I think it’s important to remember that right now Nats’ Ejee K’eh is one of the resources that is also used, as is the Salvation Army. We do have residential programs available. We’re going to have to take a look at a petition the Member says he’s going to table. We’ll have to have a look at that and try to figure out exactly what area the inmates feel that there is a shortage of space, because right now we’re not filling up Nats’ Ejee K’eh with inmates. I’m going to have to talk to the department to get a better handle on what it is that people are looking for.