/R E P E A T -- Media Advisory - OPSEU president to tour CNCC February 11 to witness "crisis in corrections" firsthand/

PENETANGUISHENE, ON, Feb. 10, 2016 /CNW/ - Warren (Smokey) Thomas, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, will tour the Central North Correctional Centre on February 11 to gain a firsthand look at the crisis in corrections that is impacting jails, including the province's first "super jail" in Penetanguishene .

"I've had the opportunity to visit six detention centres since mid-December and what I've witnessed fits a disturbing pattern," said Thomas, whose union represents more than 6,000 correctional officers and parole and probation employees. "Our correctional system is broken and it needs fixing now."

The OPSEU president said the crisis in corrections is a public safety issue. Facilities are overcrowded and understaffed. Lockdowns are routine and not the exception. Too many inmates with mental health illnesses and substance abuse issues are being warehoused without treatment. Violence is not uncommon.

OPSEU is calling on the Wynne government to earmark $100 million in this year's spring budget to address the crisis in correctional services.

Thomas will begin his tour of CNCC at 1:00 p.m. and it will end at approximately 2:30 p.m. A news conference will be held outside the facility immediately following the tour.

Details

Date:	Thursday, February 11
Time:	1:00 – 2:30 p.m. (estimated). News conference to follow.
Location:	1501 Fuller Avenue, Penetanguishene

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)

Greg Hamara, OPSEU Communications / 647-238-9933