……to be fair, we got an answer.

“About 200 Toronto South Detention Centre guards refused non-essential work at the jail on Monday, March 4, after an alleged assault by inmates injured eight staff members on the previous weekend.”

So began the April 21st posting reprinting our letter to the provincial minister, critical of the bias with the department’s reporting of operational issues at this Toronto jail. Despite so much evidence to the contrary, government, guards and their union cite inmate hostility as a central cause of the problems at the institution….along with ongoing complaints by guards of staffing shortages.

As the media reported later, that weekend attack on guards was precipitated by an earlier assault by guards on an inmate. Unjustified use of force by either side isn’t sanctioned in principle, but it’s notable that officially, guards don’t attack inmates.

The March 15 letter to Minister Sylvia Jones pointed out that “no inmate who is not deranged awakes of a morning and decides to assault a guard….. Are you aware of the consequences?” A second letter followed on May 6 asking for a comment when there was no response. “I Hate Inmates!” posted on May 19 implied an answer was doubtful.

Unexpectedly, a lengthy June 19 letter over the minister’s signature addressed the issues raised, and with an unusually candid and liberal bent for a Conservative cabinet minister. “We are creating better housing options, redefining segregation…..better mental health screening and assessment tools.” “We have implemented measure to provide better oversight and support…..” “At Toronto South Detention Centre, steps are being taken to improve staff and inmate safety…..” At TSDC, “a new initiative…..will address key challenges…for improvement through a formal culture audit.” “Overcrowding is a key issue….hiring remains a top priority….to meet existing shortages, reduce lockdowns, ease workloads…..”

There was more in the same vein, not anticipated from a minister of a political party more attuned to a let-them-rot-in-hell scenario for imprisoned offenders. But, Minister Jones’ letter ended with, “Your feedback is important and will help our government inform its policies.”

“Policies.” Therein lies the hidden juggernaut waiting in the shadows. No minister of any party, no head office bureaucracy, no amount of input from outside the system has ever been able to successfully address the difference between policy, and practice in the trenches.

MORE LIGHT SWITCHES IN OUR FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRY WILL CONTINUE NEXT WEEK………