FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On August 10 we recognize Prisoner’s Justice Day, a day to remember those who have lost their lives in prison and to acknowledge the needs and rights of prisoners within the Canadian and Saskatchewan justice systems.
In Saskatchewan, anywhere between 1,700 and 2,100 people are incarcerated at any given time.
Reintegration programming is underfunded and education and employment-training within jails for inmates is scarce.
Saskatchewan’s incarceration rate of Indigenous peoples is highest in Canada at 19.4 times higher than non-Indigenous people.
Over half of Saskatchewan inmates are on remand, which means they are legally innocent and awaiting their trial. And the demand for legal supports for inmates far outweighs the availability of services.
Amid these realities, it’s important to recognize prisoners’ rights to be treated with dignity: to live in humane conditions, be granted due process, and access the same quality of healthcare and mental health services as the rest of society.
“Protecting prisoners’ rights isn’t optional, it’s the baseline,” says JHSS Public Legal Counsel Grace Gardner. “Charter rights do not disappear beyond prison walls. If our goal is a safer society, then the first step is ensuring people who are incarcerated are provided the necessary support and resources that put them in a better position to successfully reintegrate into their communities.”
Prisoner justice also involves making sure people in prison have the supports they need once they are released. The good news is that we know what works:
- Housing, education, employment, health supports and positive social networks set former prisoners up for success, reduce rates of recidivism and keep communities safe.
- Community-supported reintegration connects former inmates to resources they need
- Post-release employment provides stability and income for inmates
- Providing legal services and access to justice to inmates keeps institutions accountable and helps inmates know their rights.
On this day we recognize that being tough on criminals is not the same as being tough on crime. By pursuing prisoner justice we can build a safer and more inclusive society for everyone.
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