Almost a “Life Sentence” – 15 years and still in

Almost a “Life Sentence” – 15 years and still in

 By Murray Lincoln, CAC Chair for the Ontario Region

CAC Ontario Chair and proud member of the Peterborough CAC

Fifteen years ago my friend Dan called to ask if I could accompany him to the local parole office to talk about a guy coming out of federal prison. The man in question was old, in a wheel chair, and had a major attitude problem.  There was no place for him to live and no available resources to help him.

We soon me Ted and Pat, and the parole supervisor at the office. We discussed the problems that “Stan” was facing as he came out of prison.  Stan tended to drive people away. He was a senior citizen with a criminal record revolving around his anger issues, which had given him quite a few years in prison. We also shared the different things that each of us brought to the table in terms of our abilities, training, and interests.

The PO supervisor suggested that we form a Citizen Advisory Committee to better help this ex-con.  So we formed the first CAC in Peterborough.  That was the beginning of our “observing, advising and liaising” – the main work of CAC members.

None of us original four members had any idea what the CAC was about. We only knew that our talents and abilities might help keep our community safe.  We had never heard the letters “CAC” before – probably like most people in Canada.

It all happened because of Stan’s bad attitude and the passion of each member of the newly formed CAC to help keep the community safe.  Finding housing and support for Stan was vital to keeping our streets safe.

We were initially able to find Stan a temporary room at a senior’s home. But when management found out who was sleeping in one of their beds, they demanded he be picked up immediately. Having an ex-con next door to someone’s dear old mother was not a sellable feature for the home’s brochure.

In the end, the parole office helped arrange a part-time place for Stan to stay – a motel with very large doors for his wheel chair. 

Like other CACs across Canada, ours has creatively sought out ways, designed opportunities, and carried out community engagements, training sessions, symposiums, and contacts in Peterborough and the surrounding areas to help bridge the gap between offenders in correctional facilities and the community.

There are close to 600 citizens that participate in 106 Citizen Advisory Committees across Canada. Members represent various social, cultural, and demographic backgrounds and occupations, and usually live close to the facility that the committee serves. Members are volunteers who are appointed for a period of two years, by the director, warden or parole representative of the CSC.

Commissioner Don Head states that, “…as informed participants in the correctional process, you are charged with not only representing the views of the communities in which we operate, but also in representing CSC’s mandate and values to the community. By actively engaging community support, you help bridge the gap between offenders in correctional facilities and the community.”

A lot has happened since we began this adventure together. Our community has been impacted by meeting and helping offenders with various criminogenic profiles and from hearing victims discuss their fears and concerns, even years after the crime.

Today Ted Boynton is the new Chair of our Peterborough CAC. Dan and Pat have moved to other organizations helping men and women coming out of the federal system.

Stan passed away in the community, as have a number of other former inmates. We provided the funeral service for him as we have for a number of others that have come to us from prison, but that is another story for another time.

I enjoy the work I do with the CAC.  I love connecting with the CSC staff and offering support for the tasks they do.  Our “observing, advising, and liaising” is vital for the community.  I’m in it for life.