CAEFS' Response to the Discussion Draft Circulated by the Correctional Service of Canada Regarding the New Maximum Security Units in the Regional Women's Prisons (a.k.a. Intensive Intervention in a Secure Environment)

In addition to the detailed comments that follow, we also reiterate our pre-existing position of opposition to any and all prison expansion, our particular opposition to the development of these units and those that currently exist in the men's prisons, as well as our positions regarding the treatment of women classified as maximum security prisoners. Moreover, we encourage you to review CAEFS' position paper on this issue, which we published in March 1998. We particularly wish to emphasize the following points from that paper:

1. CAEFS believes that all imprisoned federally sentenced women should be accommodated in their home regions in the regional women's prisons or at the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge;
2. CAEFS opposed and opposes the construction of Maximum Security Units in women's prisons;
3. CAEFS believes that the current CSC classification system is gender-biased, discriminates against minorities and people with disabilities and results in the over-classification of women (particularly Aboriginal women and women with mental health issues) as maximum security.
4. CAEFS believes that women whose behaviour makes in difficult for them to integrate with the rest of the prison population could be managed within designated regular accommodation houses at the regional prisons with the addition of intensive dynamic security and especially enhanced and substantial interaction with properly trained staff.
5. CAEFS believes that the rigid separation between maximum and non-maximum security women that currently exists and is forecast by CSC is inconsistent with the CSC Mission Statement, Core Values and strategies, especially in relation to the goal of successful reintegration into the community.
6. CAEFS believes that meaningful programming, and especially the provision of meaningful employment, education and vocational training opportunities, is crucial to enhance the likelihood of community integration for all federally sentenced women.

CAEFS is extremely disappointed with the direction represented by the draft Operational Plan. In our view it represents significant retreat from the principles of Creating Choices and the recommendations of the Arbour Commission.

We believe that responses to problems and incidents in the women's prisons that are primarily security-based (such as the creation of Maximum Security Units) are not only destined for failure but are more likely to increase, than decrease, the incidence of violence and harm. We are gravely concerned that the very existence of these units will create a demand for yet greater levels of static security, which will in turn result in even further increases in the use of force and systemic oppression and repression - all of which will be to the further detriment of everyone who lives and works in the women's prisons. The spill over of these approaches will also further negatively impact on the broader community and will undoubtedly heighten public safety concerns.