Ground breaking agreement in correction services

A ground breaking agreement was signed in Kahnawake this morning between Correctional Services Quebec and the Public Safety Division of the Mohawk Council. The agreement provides for parole and re-integration of prisoners to be performed in Kahnawake in a culturally appropriate way. This is the first ever agreement of its kind for Correction Services Quebec and an Indigenous community. Francois Demers is the Acting Deputy Commissioner of Corrections Quebec:

“We strongly believe that everything we do closely to the community is important for re-integration, for us, it’s very important to have the community involved. the services are going to be more adapted to the people.”

Ryan Montour heads up the Public Safety Portfolio:

“It means the world, for the support services both inside and outside. We do have a strong social services here that’s able to help community members with whatever problems they have. We all know that incarceration is the ‘end-game’ of a pre-existing problem. Whether it’s addiction services, family support, work skills – we do have a special system here that definitely will support the offender into being a successful member of our community.”

Lloyd Phillips is the Commissioner of Public Safety on the investment on the agreement:

“The agreement initially is for $108,000, it’s for a 2-year agreement at this point and that’s going to support the work that’s has to happen in the community, the new work that takes place in the community. That’s a starting point and as we evolve and further define the relationship, we’re always open to having more discussions on where that’s going to go. We  think it’s a solid starting point to build on the correction services we have in general in the community, it’s going to enahnce everything that we are doing to support our people.”

There are currently 10 offenders from Kahnawake who are serving sentences in Provincial jails. There are a further 24 who are subject to various and differing levels of conditions of parole.