Displaced, Disttirbed, and Disrupted The federal Conservative government: announced the closure of the maximum-security Kingston Penitentiary and Regional Treatment Center (RTC) located on its grounds in April The decision which was broadcast by former Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews was met with substantial criticism; as the government would be rushing into closing the facility without a viable plan in place to accommodate the maximum-security and severely mentally ill prisoners housed within its confines (Murphy June 7). it would appear now that the consequences of this recklessly ambitious plan are being downloaded onto the prisoners, correctional officers and stz'r'l;'f members of Collins Bay Institution, as the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has made an ad--hoc decision to close down one complete 96 bed security unit at Collins "Bay and turn it into a temporary impromptu "Regional Treatment Center (RTC) for 70 acute care prisoners who are being evacuated from Kingston Penitentiary (KP) as promised by September 201.3. With the September shut--down looming and the construction projects which were hastily undertaken in preparations for these displaced prisoners incomplete at Bath institution, which was the intended site for accommodating the (RTC) Prisoners, Collins Bay is now being forcecl to react by coming up with a l> adjusting to a new cell--environment will invariably result in a change to the predictability of behaviour for both prisoners and staff members which as evidence has shown can dramatically alter the dynamic that exists between keeper and kept to such a degree that officers will end up discharging their duties in ways that are at odds with their security priorities (UCCO which tnanifestly means adverse effects for not only the incarcerated but also those who work in that environment. increases in negative interpersonal interactions have been demonstrated to cause adverse effects on the well--being of all those in such a setting and while it is agreed that there are no clear cut explanations for the increased adversity associated with offender crowding, one must consider, particularly in the case ofCSC's planned accomrnoclation scheme, the evident consequences which will reveal themselves in the form of a reduction in both spatial and tangible resources which the scarcity of often cause significant frustration, competition and conflict leading to aggression and violence (UCCO While this is no less a reality at current, the plans to re-integrate the prisoner of unit six (6) throughout the institution must be considered in the context of the very real hierarchical structures currently in place which serve as a stabilising force in the institution. One way that CSC manages these hierarchical arrangements is by a population management strategy that distributes those most predatory and those most permissive evenly throughout the institution so as not to create a density of those most likely to come into conflict with one another; challenge institutional authority; or even become victimized. We find it diifficult to comprehend how this will remain viable with the mass departure of nearly prisoners into other areas of the institution. lmmediate concerns that present themselves concern disputes over telephone usage; laundry facilities; appliance space; as well as common living space which is already restricted. Furthermore, as part of rnandate to assist prisoners in becoming law abiding citizens it is imperative that CSC ensures prisoner are actively and meaningfully engaged in programs and employment. Many of these ernployrnent positions are found on the units where prisoners act as peer counsellors, 'unit representatives, hygiene distributors, and cleaners. Shutting down unit six (6) will autornatically suspend all oi.' these work assignments thus .interfering with individual correctional planning and ultimately rehabilitation. Beyond the immediate logistical irnplications of this accommodation strategy which are inherent. to the living environment and physical as well as integrity of all those in this setting, one must not overlook also U1 the operational impact that having 70 (RTC) acute care patients housed only steps away from the general population, will have on the character and operations of Collins Bay. Collins Bay is already emerging as a schizophrenic institution in that there do exist three distinct de facto sub--populations within this compound. This is despite the fact that Collins Bay classifies itself as a medium security institution. With four block (high), six seven and eight block (rnediuni), and nine block (low), in addition to the currently being constructed ma:-rimurn security 'unit, Collins Bay must find a way to cater to the rights and needs of an already compromised and complex population, while at the same time accommodating the unparalleled needs of patients. While managers have attempted to assure the inmate committee that the existence of an (RTC) unit in the Collins Bay compound will have little or no operational impact on the routine of the rest of the prison we find this exceedingly difficult to digest. in some institutions with special needs populations it is not uncommon for authorities to loclodown the entire prison so that a "few prisoners can he moved to common areas or take part in programming, exercise, receive visits, or health care attention (Office of the Correctional investigator p.29). Are we to believe that the 70 RTC prisoners will simply be shuttered away into their security unit never to access any of the resources and services which are just as much their rights as prisoners as ours? Unfathomabie. This idea ofa prison within a prison" will become no less than what the Correctional Investigator has referred to as segregation-lite: an unjust and extra--punitive measure born of the poor planning and reckless decision making resultant: in a game of political posturing that makes we the inrnates of Collins Bay, as well as the displaced prisoners, and Correctional staff their pawns; These changes carry the potential to significantly and irreversibly alter the conditions of confinement at Collins Bay. You would expect that the government would guide their decision- making by what is lawful, fair and evidence based, yet with this acconunodation plan it appears they are merely reliant upon what is expedient and convenient. While it is not within the range of the Collins Bay lnrnate Committees knowledge to truly speculate upon the authenticity of the CSC claim that this will only be a temporary measure it is very difficult to come to terms with. Kingston Penitentiary has been open for 11.77 years. Obviously there are financial benefits to be reaped with shutting its doors in September, but are these three months of savings worth the consequences of displacing, disturbing, and disrupting, the prisoners and staff members of Collins Bay'? Last year in response to the announced closure of Kingston Penitentiary on financial grounds, Kingston and lsiands Liberal Member of Parliament Ted doubted the validity of that argument on the grounds that Kingston Penitentiary and Regional Treatment. Center are among the cheapest institutions to operate and maintain in Canada (Hsa May 09). Of course, then Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews accused Hsa of "using facts that support his narrow political goals". Toevvs and the conservative government have a far greater Crime than that, they are using people by putting their lives at risk: hoth prisoner and public. On the surface of this accomlnodation plan it may appear that the ambitions of the conservative government are within their professed mandate to deliver fiscal accountability and practically appropriate public funds, however if one tooks a little cioser they will see that. this accommodation plan not only jeopardises the wellbeing of those working and residing in Collins but ultimately the safety of the public. By .Iarr0d Shaokfor the Collins Bay .Im-Hare Conuirin.'ee Re "err-3nce.r Cohen, T. November 8). 'Im;-ems cm Rise mid:-3:' Postlvieclia News. Ottawa Hsu, T. (2012, May Tire REAL Numbers Behind losing KP and Ted"'s BLOG. Retrieved August 2, 2013. From Murphy, J. (201.2, one 7). plan for in 'dc.'mgeron.s' Umkm. The Toronto Sun. Retrieved January 30, 2l'.'.lfil3. From i 25 Ozlifice of the Correctional Investigator. Annua! Re_porr Of]'i'ce Ir1ves'rignr0r 20.1 1 -- 2012. Retrieved from 1. fit) ensras Paperny, A. (2012, May 09). As pri30n.s' close, complaints' of rise. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 30, 2013. From complaints-of-overcrow Union of Canadian Correctional Officers. (20.1. .1). A Criticai Rt-3w'ei-v of the Wit/tin Corrections.' I/re on Staff, and the Public. Canada. Author