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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Too many ex-cons reoffend: Tories
Stats misleading, says attorney general
Three out of four adults released from Manitoba jails are back in trouble with the law within two years -- a fact that the Opposition Conservatives say is unacceptable."The revolving door (of justice) is spinning as quickly as ever in Manitoba prisons," Tory Leader Hugh McFadyen told reporters Tuesday after releasing statistics obtained by his party through a Freedom of Information request.
McFadyen said the information shows "a record" 75 per cent of those released from provincial jails between October and December 2007 had run afoul of the law by the end of last year. He called the number "unacceptably high" and suggested the problem is worse in Manitoba than in other provinces.
For youths, the recidivism rate during the same period was between 85 and 95 per cent, McFadyen said.
"Clearly, after 11 years in power, the NDP haven't been able to deal with this problem, and I think it's time for some new approaches," he told reporters.
Attorney General Andrew Swan noted that the figures released by the Tories include all custody breaches and don't necessarily mean offenders are convicted and being sent back to jail. In some cases, he said, the individuals may simply have greater restrictions placed on their freedom.
That's why Manitoba's track record may appear to be worse than in other provinces, which only record subsequent convictions, he said.
Swan also contended that the high recidivism rate -- it hadn't been above 70 per cent for several years -- may also be due to "more intensive supervision" of individuals in recent years upon their release from jail. Swan said young offenders can breach conditions of their release for something as basic as not attending school as required.
"I think people need to know that we've been taking steps to keep suppressing people who we think are at a risk to reoffend," he said.
larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 3, 2010 B3
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