CPSP MINISTER UNVEILS ACTION PLAN TO IMPROVE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM

Corrections, Public Safety and Policing Minister Darryl Hickie today released the External Investigation Team's Report on the August 24, 2008 escape from the Regina Provincial Correctional Centre. The Minister also released The Road Ahead: Towards a Safer Correctional System, the Government's response and four-point action plan to improve the province's adult corrections system.

The Road Ahead contains four strategic directions aimed at: strengthening infrastructure, improving safety and security; enhancing staff performance, preparedness and accountability; better intelligence gathering and stronger security partnerships; and strengthening correctional practices.

To support these priorities, the Government will:

• Allocate $87 million to build a new remand centre in Saskatoon;
• Spend $9.4 million to upgrade security equipment in all secure facilities;
• Invest in staff training and development;
• Review existing policies and procedures for consistency and application to legislation;
• Increase intelligence and security capacity and improve intelligence-sharing with police partners; and
• Implement new information systems.

The Government has accepted all of the report's 23 recommendations.

"I thank the External Investigation Team for their diligence and hard work in producing their report," Hickie said. "The Road Ahead highlights the Government's commitment to positive change in how we conduct the very challenging work of adult corrections in this province."

A copy of the External Investigation Team's Report and the Government's response are available on the Corrections, Public Safety and Policing website at www.cpsp.gov.sk.ca.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Judy Orthner
Corrections, Public Safety and Policing
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5883
Email: judy.orthner@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-535-2233