Corrections system faced with $21-million cut in Alberta budget

EDMONTON A multimillion dollar cut to the provincial corrections budget isn’t concerning in and of itself, says the head of a local John Howard Society, so long as it doesn’t put staff and inmates at risk or compromise community-based programs.

The UCP government introduced its first provincial budget Thursday, calling for, among other things, a 7.7 per cent reduction in the size of the public service to help rein in Alberta’s deficit.

Tucked away in the fiscal plan is a $21-million cut to the correctional services operating expense budget by fiscal 2021-22. Provincial officials said it’s still too early to say how those targets will be met, but suggested it could be done by making existing systems more efficient.

Alberta operates eight adult correctional centres — including the Edmonton Remand Centre, the largest jail in Canada — as well as youth facilities and community programs like probation.

The 2019 budget calls for reducing the cost of operating the system — from $289 million a year to $268 million over the next few years. It also notes Alberta correctional peace officers are paid about five per cent more than their counterparts in other parts of Canada.

“There are inefficiencies and cost savings that have already been identified,” a statement from the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General said.

“These include the use of electronic record keeping rather than the more costly and outdated paper filing systems that are currently in place at some facilities, or even the use of email at facilities that are still using fax machines.”

Chris Hay, executive director of the John Howard Society of Alberta, said the province doesn’t need to be locking people up at the rate it currently does. Alberta consistently has the country’s highest proportion of remand inmates — people detained prior to trial who haven’t been convicted.

It’s a sentiment echoed by others, including Edmonton police Chief Dale Mcfee, who has called for “off ramps” to keep non-dangerous offenders out of the justice system.

Hay said Alberta could stand to spend less on corrections, provided doing so doesn’t put staff or inmates in danger.

“We know that there’s lots of people in jail who shouldn’t be there and don’t need to be there,” he said. “Secondly, we know that community programs are at least one-fifth the cost of lock-up and have far superior positive outcomes.”

“If all the rest of (the justice system) can get on board … and stop sending so many people to jail that don’t need to be there, then maybe Corrections won’t need as much money,” he said.

Hay worried that law-and-order politicians might balk at the political costs of cutting jails and cut budgets for alternatives instead.

“It’s a lot easier to cut probation jobs and services,” he said.

‘ECOURTS’ PROPOSED

The budget contains several other tidbits related to the justice system, including a plan to cut back on the amount of paper gobbled up by the courts.

Part of the capital plan will see $39 million spent on an “ecourts” project over six years. The budget notes Alberta’s courts are still dependent on paper records and processes that are decades old.

“This will digitally transform court records and streamline and standardize court processes,” the plan states. “Albertans are expected to save nearly one-million visits; two-million hours and over $400 million in expenses over the first five years, because they will not have to attend a court facility, except for more substantive matters and trials.”