stevesboo23
02-25-2005, 09:26 AM
Prefer women's prison over alternative
http://www.abbynews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=38&cat=23&id=381359&more= (http://http://www.abbynews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=38&cat=23&id=381359&more=)
By JOE MILLICAN
Abbotsford News
Feb 24 2005
The Abbotsford-based Fraser Valley Institution cost $7.9 million last year to house its 51 federal inmates.
The women's prison, which in March 2004 replaced the Sumas Centre in the Matsqui Complex on King Road, had a $7.86 million budget for its first year of operation.
That figure will increase to $8.7 million when the facility is completed, potentially in June this year. At that time, 10 maximum security prisoners will move in.
Abbotsford councillors learned these figures when addressed by warden Dianne Brown at their meeting on Monday afternoon.
The current capacity at the facility is 56, Brown pointed out, adding that figure will eventually sit at 66.
There are currently 107 full and part-time staff, a number that will grow to 110 full-time positions on completion.
Brown's presentation prompted a number of questions and comments from councillors.
Taking into account the current 28 minimum and 15 medium security inmates, Coun. Simon Gibson asked what percentage of Canadian female prisoners are housed at the Fraser Valley Institution.
Brown said that 51 of the nation's 350 incarcerated women are in the Abbotsford centre.
Mayor Mary Reeves then commented that she has "never been a huge supporter of the expansion of the prison system."
"It is the age-old adage of location, location, location," Reeves said.
"There is a congregated number of institutions on that (Matsqui Complex) land and that is a concern for me."
Coun. George Peary said that "given a choice' between having the Sumas Centre or Fraser Valley Institution in Abbots ford, he would prefer the women's prison.
"That's a no brainer as far as I am concerned," he said.
"To have a relatively small number of women serving their sentences here . . . this is a far more preferable use of the facility from my perspective."
Reeves then clarified what she meant by her comments.
"I was talking generally - I was talking about the bigger picture," Reeves said, pointing out the City of Abbots ford does not receive a 10 per cent federal contribution for its prison system because it does not have an RCMP police force.
"There is a cost to the community."
As well as the Fraser Valley Institute, the Matsqui Complex is the home of the medium-security Matsqui Instit ution for men and the Pacific Institute and Regional Health Centre.
http://www.abbynews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=38&cat=23&id=381359&more= (http://http://www.abbynews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=38&cat=23&id=381359&more=)
By JOE MILLICAN
Abbotsford News
Feb 24 2005
The Abbotsford-based Fraser Valley Institution cost $7.9 million last year to house its 51 federal inmates.
The women's prison, which in March 2004 replaced the Sumas Centre in the Matsqui Complex on King Road, had a $7.86 million budget for its first year of operation.
That figure will increase to $8.7 million when the facility is completed, potentially in June this year. At that time, 10 maximum security prisoners will move in.
Abbotsford councillors learned these figures when addressed by warden Dianne Brown at their meeting on Monday afternoon.
The current capacity at the facility is 56, Brown pointed out, adding that figure will eventually sit at 66.
There are currently 107 full and part-time staff, a number that will grow to 110 full-time positions on completion.
Brown's presentation prompted a number of questions and comments from councillors.
Taking into account the current 28 minimum and 15 medium security inmates, Coun. Simon Gibson asked what percentage of Canadian female prisoners are housed at the Fraser Valley Institution.
Brown said that 51 of the nation's 350 incarcerated women are in the Abbotsford centre.
Mayor Mary Reeves then commented that she has "never been a huge supporter of the expansion of the prison system."
"It is the age-old adage of location, location, location," Reeves said.
"There is a congregated number of institutions on that (Matsqui Complex) land and that is a concern for me."
Coun. George Peary said that "given a choice' between having the Sumas Centre or Fraser Valley Institution in Abbots ford, he would prefer the women's prison.
"That's a no brainer as far as I am concerned," he said.
"To have a relatively small number of women serving their sentences here . . . this is a far more preferable use of the facility from my perspective."
Reeves then clarified what she meant by her comments.
"I was talking generally - I was talking about the bigger picture," Reeves said, pointing out the City of Abbots ford does not receive a 10 per cent federal contribution for its prison system because it does not have an RCMP police force.
"There is a cost to the community."
As well as the Fraser Valley Institute, the Matsqui Complex is the home of the medium-security Matsqui Instit ution for men and the Pacific Institute and Regional Health Centre.