Question has been called. Motion is carried.

---Carried

Go to Mr. Yakeleya.

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Justice provide a status report to Standing Committee on Government Operations at least once before the end of the 17th Assembly, and further recommends that the status report be provided annually during the 18th Assembly, outlining actions taken in response to the Auditor General’s report. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. Motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Justice take immediate steps to ensure that all inmates undergo case management assessments regardless of the length of their sentences. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The purpose of this motion is probably twofold. One, the Auditor General definitely recognized the fact that those inmates of less than 120 days receive very little programming or enhancements to their stay in our care. Even through dialogue with the department, there was a direction and even a response that the department was going to look at lowering that 120-day review, observation, to a 90-day process.

Committee felt very strongly, and I believe so did the Auditor General’s staff, that there should be no time limit based on your stay. If you are an inmate within our correctional service, that every and all inmates, as the motion says, undergo case management assessments.

There’s definitely a system problem there. There’s a software problem, and we’re hoping that by this motion this gives clear direction to the department and its Minister that this has to be fixed sooner than later. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. To the motion.

Question has been called. Motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Justice find innovative ways to increase inmates’ access to rehabilitation programs and to ensure that all inmates have access to the programs they most need to meet the rehabilitation goals. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think it all begins right on the onset of when an inmate comes to the institution system and developing that case management assessment. But, more importantly, the case management plan, not having those in place doesn’t help the inmate look at what programs will benefit him the most, and being institutionalized for a certain amount of time, it’s the perfect opportunity to get some of those who are of the highest needs, whether they’re mental health issues or alcohol and drug related, to get them to the right and proper rehabilitation programs or any programs that can help them get reintegrated into their communities or back into society as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Moses. To the motion.

Question has been called. Motion is carried.

---Carried

Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Justice develop better plans for inmate release and reintegration, including examining the merits of having a dedicated reintegration coordinator. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Motion is in order. To the motion. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is an area where committee felt strongly that the department was falling down as well. When inmates come in, they need to be assessed. They then need the programming that will assist them in getting better, to try and solve the problem of why they’re in there in the first place. But when they are released, they need to have supports so that don’t re-offend and end up back in correctional facilities.

So, this motion tries to highlight the fact that there is very little planning for inmate release and reintegration back into their community and it is important enough to the committee that we want to tell the department to put a much larger focus on inmate release and reintegration and we are suggesting that they look at having a dedicated staff person who does nothing but coordination for reintegration of inmates on their release. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. To the motion.

Question has been called. Motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Justice develop the processes and safeguards necessary to ensure that staff are knowledgeable about the rules they are required to enforce and that they have the training necessary to do their jobs effectively. Thank you Mr. Chair.