Justice committee  Thank you very much for the opportunity to share with you the perception of the John Howard Society on Bill C-46. We don't bring any depth of scientific expertise, but we are an organization that's fully committed to effective, just, and humane responses to the causes and consequences of crime.

Public Safety committee  You're raising a very important point. It's very key to ensure that the mechanisms of support are in place for people who have drug addiction issues and who are leaving prison. Whether that's methadone replacement therapy, or whether it's Narcotics Anonymous, whatever supports they need should be put in place.

Public Safety committee  That's accurate. Yes, 75% to 80% are diagnosed as having some sort of an addiction issue.

Public Safety committee  It's a serious problem, yes.

Public Safety committee  I would say that's true. A lot of people were on substances at the time they committed the offence, and there's a lot of lower-level nuisance crime, I would say, by people who are addicted, because they need to pay for the drugs. You get continuing cycles of criminality connected with illegal drugs.

Public Safety committee  They're extremely important. We would really like to see CSC have additional resources that are specifically targeted for drug issues and reintegrations.

Public Safety committee  I think there is an element of risk aversion on the part of the parole boards. I also think some of the legislative changes that are being contemplated are actually going to make that worse. One of the bills that is now before the Senate will make coming forward for parole once every five years if you get denied.

Public Safety committee  My belief is that they will be exercising their discretion to deny—that's been the pattern—or to revoke parole. The way the winds are blowing currently, I would see all of this resulting in more denials of parole and releases on the basis of this particular bill. I'm happy that the scope remains in the legislation, because if the winds ever change, you could see the Parole Board exercising its discretion around whether it makes sense for the successful release and reintegration of a person, whether this particular drug infraction is sufficiently serious that parole should be denied.

Public Safety committee  We're seeing parole release dates later and later in the actual sentence. We know that being released in a parole regime where they are supervised and supported and where they come into contact with supporting organizations and communities makes a big difference in their recidivism rates.

Public Safety committee  Thank you very much. It's a great pleasure to be here on this important issue of drugs in prisons. The John Howard Society is a charity committed to effective, just, and humane responses to the causes and consequences of crime. There are about 60 front-line John Howard offices in communities across the country, offering services to promote community safety.

Public Safety committee  Thank you.

Public Safety committee  I agree with that. In fact, I think you could even parse the categories of murderers. A lot of murderers, not the psychosexual serial killer types but a lot of one-off murderers, are actually your lowest-risk people when they are actually released on parole. I think you need to distinguish among them—the serial killers, the sado-sexual and others—and maybe have a very narrow category for the highest-risk people, the dangerous offender types.

Public Safety committee  Given the length of what most federal offenders are actually serving, it would be extremely unlikely that they would get out on parole. Most people do not get parole on their first appearance. If you're going to have to wait another five years, then what is the point of participating in the programs to fulfill your correctional plan if you're going to wait until statutory release or warrant expiry in any event?

Public Safety committee  I have no problem with that, but I would prefer that the comments made be relevant to the decision that the quasi-judicial board is considering at that time. As you've heard from many of the victims who have appeared before you, it's very difficult not to go back to the original offence and want to continue to hold inmates accountable for that initial deed.

Public Safety committee  Thank you very much. I'm with the John Howard Society of Canada, which is a community-based charity whose mission is to support effective, just, and humane responses to the causes and consequences of crime. The society has more than 60 front-line officers across the country offering many programs to support the reintegration of offenders and to prevent crime.