City considers ex-cons transfers

By CHERYL BROWNE – Barrie Examiner

Updated 1 day ago

City councillors are considering asking the Ontario government to prohibit the use of downtown Barrie as a destination for ex convicts.

Council could pass a resolution Monday night asking the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services to review its offender release practice that currently drops released inmates from Penetanguishene's Central North Correctional Centre at the downtown Barrie bus station weekly.

"My concern with the current practice is that it often leaves released offenders with little services and support," said Coun. Lynn Strachan.

Penetanguishene's correctional facility buses ex convicts to Barrie with whatever possessions they had with them when they were arrested, said Greg Flood, spokesman at the ministry.

If they had cash on them when they were arrested, that is returned to them.

Flood says they are then driven to Barrie by the correctional facility and released with a bus ticket home.

"Once they've satisfied their sentence, they're free to go," said Flood.

However, if the next bus to their home town isn't scheduled for several hours, they remain in the downtown core and that's where they can get into trouble.

"It leads to social and safety concerns downtown," said Strachan. "People are released and other people prey on those folks, influencing them often in an inappropriate manner."

After a recent meeting with the Downtown Barrie Business Association (BIA) Strachan said they've spoken to Barrie MPP Rod Jackson about their concerns.

"If we pass the resolution at council, that makes Rod Jackson aware of our concerns. He's been to the downtown (BIA) meetings, so this would enable him to advocate on our behalf."

Once passed, the resolution would be sent to the Ministry of Correctional Services to determine if there are other release points for the men and women who leave the North Correctional Centre, such as a GO station.

Strachan said the future site of the new bus station on Welham Road could also help alleviate some of the concerns of the downtown.

cbrowne@thebarrieexaminer.com

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