Battling recidivism

Re: Should life behind bars be comfortable? Colby Cosh, Dec. 26

I was heartened to see Colby Cosh asking whether life behind bars should be comfortable. It's disheartening to compare Canada's prisons with ones in Germany and Norway. They treat most inmates as human beings capable of rehabilitation and provide a rewarding work environment for staff. The recidivism rate is far lower and their prisons cost less to run.

Why are there more Indigenous prison inmates today than there were students at peak enrolment, about 11,500, in residential schools? For 2017/18, StatCan reported a total of 14,667 Indigenous prison inmates, including 3,032 youth.

Why didn't the Indigenous commissioners for three multimillion-dollar inquiries consider the fact that those in or preparing for satisfying jobs seldom get into trouble or go to jail? Why didn't they advocate for marginalized youth to get the education and skills training, sports and recreation, and opportunity for a rewarding career that they had in their own childhoods and youth?

Consider, by contrast, the fact that the great Irish writer Brendan Behan was in reform school between the ages of 16 and 19, after being convicted on a terrorism charge. Intensive education and encouragement there contributed to his later success.

Colin Alexander, Ottawa