No more free tattoos for prison inmates

Soo Today ^ | 12/04/2006 | By David Helwig

[Responsibility2nd]

Canada's new government ends tattoo program for convicted criminals

OTTAWA, ONTARIO - (Dec. 4, 2006) - Today, the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety announced that Canada's new government will not continue the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) one-year tattooing pilot program.

Under the previous government, CSC began a pilot project in six of its 58 federal correctional institutions in August of 2005 to offer inmates tattoos.

The cost of the one-year operation was approximately $600,000, plus prior start-up costs, which totalled approximately $350,000.

"Our government will not spend taxpayers' money on providing tattoos for convicted criminals," said Minister Day. "Our priority is to have an effective federal corrections system that protects Canadians, while providing inmates with access to acceptable health care and treatment programs."

Corrections Canada, in partnership with Health Canada and other outside organizations, continues to implement health and education programs to help reduce the transmission of infectious diseases within the correctional setting.

These health and education programs include immunization against Hepatitis A and B, voluntary screening for early detection and treatment of infection, and education to ensure inmates understand the risks associated with illicit tattoo practices.

Canada's new government wants to put taxpayers' money where it will count most - tackling crime and crime prevention.

Funding has already been announced to add 1,000 more Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) personnel to focus on such law enforcement priorities as tackling gun and drug smuggling and increasing border security.

The 2006 budget has also allocated $20 million over two years for youth crime prevention with a focus on guns, gangs and drugs.

Last budget also included $26 million over two years to give victims of crime a more effective voice in the federal corrections and justice system.

[Responsibility2nd]

I'm going to sit here in stunned silence for a moment over the fact that a program like this ever saw the light of day in the first place.

How does any miserable failure of a left-wing liberal agenda ever see the light of day?

S-word Happens

[nothingnew]

No more free tattoos for prison inmates

Wow. What a concept.

FMCDH(BITS)

[Yo-Yo]

Prisoners give each other tatoos already using sewing needles and sharpies. This was just Canada's ink version of a "clean needle exchange program."

Still a stoopid idea.

[Continental Soldier]

Prison inmates should be working at hard labor for 8 to 10 hours per day. Then they should be showered (without any time for homo play) and fed and sent to their cells. No TV, no internet, no time in 'body-building' rooms, only time for reading and thinking. Period.

[Ronin]

This was a few years back, but wasn't it a Canadian judge that ruled that a prisoner had a right to a state-funded sex change operation as a matter of mental health?

I think I read it on Free Republic, but it's been so long ago I can't remember.

[FreedomCalls]

The government is providing tattoos for inmates? Why would they want them? It reminds me too much of this:

Auschwitz Tattoo. Number of Henry Oertelt B11291.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Under the previous government, CSC began a pilot project in six of its 58 federal correctional institutions in August of 2005 to offer inmates tattoos.

Why would this seem like a good idea in the first place?

Tattoo removal yes but giving them more tattoos?

[Responsibility2nd]

I think the idea was to give them free tattoos with clean needles. Not the dirty needles the inmates were using.

[PissAndVinegar]

Hmm - never heard of the show Oz?

They're cheaper than treating prisoners infected with HIV and every other STD out there.

[gondramB]

>>How? How would condoms in prisons save money?<<

I didn't realize this until recently but healtcare is the single largest line item in many state budgets - often %15-%20 of the total. Anything that reduces disease tranmission saves money as long as it doesn't cost too much itself. Condoms are pretty cheap.

[Responsibility2nd]

One word:

Abstinence

[GMMAC]

"I think the idea was to give them free tattoos with clean needles. Not the dirty needles the inmates were using."

Precisely and absolutely typical of the bleeding-hearted, inmates-running-the-asylum 'thinking' at Corrections Canada.

You could obtain more or less the exact same result by removing privileges and/or adding time to the sentences of prisoners getting tattooed while in the joint but, bet the farm, that thought never even occurred to the ever politically correct de facto social workers running our prisons.

[timsbella]

No free tattoos - guess they already have one inmate suing for hepatitis and another insisting on free laser removal. What's that going to cost my family?

[timsbella]

Inmates working? Unions won't have it. Personally, I believe it's a minimum requirement for paying one's debt.

[word_warrior_bob]

I'm 42, and it's amazing how there used to be a stigma about tattoos, earrings, etc. Those taboos have totally disappeared.

While I can admire the artistry in some tattoos, young people get the stupidest tattoos imaginable.

Watched an NBA game lately, about 90% of the guys are COVERED in tattoos.

[Chode]

they want a free tatt??? here's an idea... tattoo their friggin CONVICT NUMBER on their forehead so the public can avoid them when they are released.

[mkjessup]

I have to admit. I'm flabbergasted that Canada's prisons would allow something like this. What an absolutely fu**ing stupid thing to do!

Yes indeed, and notice that it took a CONSERVATIVE government to bring a halt to such lame brained nonsense.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Watched an NBA game lately, about 90% of the guys are COVERED in tattoos.

About the same percentage have criminal records.

[albertabound]

can you just imagine the hue and cry of the lefties if Harper made tattoo's mandatory?