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PAGE 4' WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1978, WHITBY FRE PRESS' w i tbY Voice of. the -Cou nty Town Michael la Theonly, Whitby newspaper independently owned and open SERVINO OVER 28,000 READERS(' an Burgess, Publisher-Managing Editor - vc y"ituy 'rUsiais aur vvauuy resiuerns Community editor -Brian Wntar Published every Wednesday Contritî~.ng Editor -Jim àuâi Production Manager -Marje*Burgesi Print & Promotiona' by M.B.M. PubIishrgi Manager -Robin Ly.' and Photogrphy hIc. Classified Ad Manager '-S. vm, Dcoe, Phone" 668-611il Circulation Manager 'ShdnLy Mailing Permit Ndo. 460 fie Free Press'Building Member of the: 131 :Bmck Street North, Botter Business Bureau of Toronto* P~TBox2O6. Whitby, Ont. Whitby Chamber of Commerce ~ r Lack of proper-security spoils what could be a good prisoners' It is flot really surprising to see that three Whitby Jail being given a inmates were charged fast week with break, enter and rotten apples ti theft while they were temporarily out of laul for various And who arE reasons. citiznes of thisi 0f those charged, one was on a weekend pass and who were sen^ failed to return, and two absconded from a work detail crimes and nof at Iroquois Park while taking part in the Ontario them. Governnient's new community work program. The provinci Although these men have flot been brought to trial potential to do yet, andi we cannot assume that they are guilty of the varîous organi charges laid against them, weare concerned that the neyer be a pow recent trend toward leniency in the penal system can Better methc lead to a real public danger. supervision ari Prisoners are supposed to be carefully screened week prove. before being allowed out of jail, whether it be for Prîsoners wh weekend passes or work details, but the present method should be givei of screening is clearly flot working. It is too easy for a guard against prisoner to take off to do some misdeed and possibly privileges they~ repeat the offence for which he was sent to jail. After ail, a ja The present system Is not offering any formn of because they b punishment or deterrent if a prisoner can get out on a develop a bettei weekend pàss for "good behavior/' and then break into prisoners when somneone's home. There is no deterrent also, if security and better meî is so inadequate that if is easy for a prisoner to escape We have thi from a work detail. prisoners and . It does not look as if the provlnce's present pollcy of government col Ienicy toward prisoners Ils golng te work or Is even it by inadequal ýProgram ichance to work. If is too easy for the o get out of the barrel and èause trouble. ethe victims? They are the Iaw-abiding community who are victimized by people t to jail for a reason--to pay for their t to be given an easy opportun ity to repeat le'i community work program has the good for the malority of prisoners, and izations in the community, but it can ýsitive factor in its present state. >ds for screening and tighter security and 'e definitely required, as the escapes last ho really want to rehabilitate themselves en an opportunity to do so, but we must Sthe actions of those who abuse the yare given. ail is a îaau, and prisoners were put in laul broke the law. The jail authorities must r means of controlling the movements of ithey are let ouf on temporary absences, ýns of selection 0f who is to, be let ouf. ýe potential to do some goDod for the the communify alike through the new mmunify work program. Let's not spoil te securlty precautions. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR oL L BOX 206 WHITBY, ONTARIO i MM"