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Escape rate i*ve lw'o pris oners on absence programs Bv BRIAN WINTER Staff Writer In the Free Press of Aug. 30 we, editorialized on our concerns about prîsoners escaping from cnmrniunity work gangs and allegedly committing crimes. At the time we criticized the officiais of the Whîthy Jaîl for lieinsg too lenient ni their screening of prisoners. During a recent interview with Allen Moore. Temporary Absence Super- visor at the Whithy Jail, we found out that the jail's record is much beter than wel had orIglnalv sui4pectecl. In five years, only two prisoners on weekend passes have failed to return, and since January, only three pri.soners have escaned from community work gangs, he sid. Mr. Moore pointed out that actually only one prisoner bas really escapcd from a work gang. Two disappeared froni a gang at Iroquoîs Park Aug. 24. but were appre- hended as they appeared to be heading back to the jail, saidMNr. Moore. If they were really trying to escape, they would not have returned, 1w sald. The two were charged with break enter and theit at Heydenshorc Pavilion, following the disappearance of some liquor. l'bc third prisoner escaped f rom a work gang in mid September and was stili at large at the ime of thc writîng of this article. The Wbitby Jail's record rcgarding the temporary absence prograni stands up very welI when it is consid- ered that 1.250 inmates, have taken part in the Temporary Absence Prograni in the pasi year, and 400 were on work gangs inthie co>mmunlty. Ilie Cfonlmunily Wurk Program hegan al the bcginning of January 1978. and alter July 1, prisoners who volunteered for commn- unity work earncd finie off their sentences. Previous to that date. there was no reward for community work, and sentences were auto- mafically rediwe(-d. Now prisoners must work to gain L1ime off their sentences., Mr. Moore explains that the Community Work Program is voluntary and prisoners who apply for il are carefuliy screened. Checks are made wfth-ihe police, probation officers. and jail records. and very seldom is a man put on the program unless he lives ini the area Whe,-e he is working, Xedonn' put anvone out if we are in douilt of hiiin< lie sa id Th'lepr«nr t>te part in Itle coimif v iilwork program lllare tunerniploNved. and are ususally il> jail for- Sucb hage as impitreýd driving. thit under $2w0. lreach of' Probation.. fraud. p<NSession of Inarijutana, or drlvlig mhile under suspen- Sionn. lvir average lengthi of -sentence is four f0 five nonths. said Air. Moore. Through the Community Work Program they can obtain one third off their sentences. The Community Work Prograni bas met with a considerable amount of favourable response. Mr. Moore relates hou, citizens baye brought cigarettes and lemnonade to the prisoners on w-ork gangs, and he has a file of letters thanking the jail for the services it has o<fered f hrougb the prograni. Cont'd onP. 2 oe-