Inmate on the lam was not a threat: RCMP
Corrections says it's unusual offender failed to return from temporary absence program
Daniel Campbell
Northern News Services
Published Friday, May 9, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
An inmate at Yellowknife's jail who was at large for seven days last week was not a threat, and thus the public was not informed, RCMP say.
The 48-year-old man had been out on an unescorted temporary absence program, where inmates are allowed - usually toward the end of their sentence - to work or take counselling in the community.
Monty Bourke, director of corrections, said the program helps inmates reintegrate into society before being released.
"It's a very very successful program. It's been in operation for many years," he said.
Last year, 81 inmates participated in the program without incident. Bourke said this is the first time in seven years they've had a problem.
"Find me a jurisdiction anywhere that has that kind of track record," said Bourke.
The man was arrested May 2 after spending a week on the outside. He's been charged with being unlawfully at large and appeared in court on Wednesday.
According to court records, the man has a limited criminal record, with convictions for uttering threats in 2011 and resisting arrest, uttering threats and simple assault in 2012.
Bourke said once inmates fail to show up, it becomes a police matter.
Marc Coulombe, spokesperson for the RCMP in Yellowknife, said the warden at the North Slave Correctional Centre contacted them immediately when they learned of the absence.
He said police didn't notify the public because the offender was not deemed to be dangerous.
"People have to understand that we will sometimes withhold information so as to prevent someone from going underground, so to speak. (There's) no sense in becoming 'chicken little' for every little matter," stated Coulombe in an e-mail to Yellowknifer.
Prisoners in Yellowknife's jail are usually serving sentences of less than two years. Bourke said the temporary absence program helps ensure offenders don't re-offend by getting some cash in their pockets and any counselling they might need before being released.
"Do you want (the offender) back where he or she has set up support measures where they can reintegrate, or do you want them back when they're cold?" Bourke asked.
Although inmates are mostly unsupervised while taking part in the program, Bourke said they are carefully screened before being accepted, with public safety taken into consideration.
"It's not a decision taken lightly," said Bourke.
Although an inmate managed to slip through this time, Bourke insists the benefits of the program outweigh the negatives.
"We're dealing with human beings here. It's not a science."
Bourke confirmed the jail would be conducting a review of the temporary absence program, but in the meantime, it continues running normally.
