Nunavut’s correctional system a revolving door

How well do Nunavut’s correctional centres rehabilitate offenders so they stay out of jail after they’re released?

That’s what Patterk Netser, the MLA for Nanulik, asked last November in a written question to Justice Minister Paul Okalik about recidivism rates and rehabilitation programs in Nunavut.

The answer is that Nunavut’s not doing well: in 2005, more than four out of 10 offenders returned to custody after their release from the Baffin Correctional Centre in Iqaluit, a rate that is at least two times the national average.

Recidivism rates refer to the number of people released from jail, who go on to be convicted of further offenses.

According to Okalik’s written answer, which he tabled in the legislature last week, the GN’s rehabilitation efforts aren’t significantly cutting the number of repeat offenders in Nunavut.

At BCC, figures from 1999 to 2004 show that about half of all offenders — 51 per cent — returned to custody after being released. In 2005, somewhat less than half — 44 per cent — returned to custody after serving time at the BCC.

In 2005, of the 180 male offenders admitted to correctional services that year, 130 had served previous time in custody, slightly fewer than in 2004.

“The rate of recidivism has declined in Nunavut over the past year, though the amount of that decrease or the factors involved in that decrease cannot be statistically proven,” reads the information that Okalik provided to MLAs.

Okalik notes the recidivism rate for male young offenders appears to have gone down slightly in 2005.

As of November, 2004, more than seven of 10 young male offenders had been re-sentenced after release — some more than five times. As of November, 2005 about six of 10 offenders had previously served a period of custody, but none as many as five times.

Of the 19 female offenders in territorial custody in Fort Smith from 2002-2005, four returned to custody after release.

Overall, the rate of recidivism is much lower for young female offenders. Of the six who have been sentenced to custody since 2002, only one returned to custody.

No numbers were offered to show exactly how many male young offenders there were in 2004 or 2005 or how many returned to custody.

As of Nov. 1, 2005, Nunavut’s justice department measured the effectiveness of its rehabilitation programs by looking at such factors as substance abuse, addiction and sexual violence, and assessing, among other things, the risks for violence and mental health issues.

Fewer than seven out of 10 offenders follow the GN’s various rehabilitation programs offered to adult and young offenders, which include drug and alcohol programs and Inuit cultural skills program.

“All offenders are encouraged to partake in rehabilitation programs, however, offenders that are serving short sentences or offenders that pose a threat to other offenders may not have the opportunity to take part in all the programming,” Okalik’s answer reads.
In the 2006-07 budget estimates, the GN expects to spend about $18 million on corrections.