Prison guards forbidden to wear protective gear

This is just downright STUPID!!!!!

From The Calgary Sun Paper
EDMONTON -- Corrections Canada won't let guards at maximum security prisons wear stab-proof vests because it sends a confrontational "signal" to prisoners. "If you have that kind of presence symbolized by (a stab-proof vest), you're sending a signal to the prisoner that you consider him to be a dangerous person," said Tim Krause.

"It interferes with what we call 'dynamic security.' We want staff to talk to prisoners, to see how they're doing."

Last month, Sun Media reported a guard at the Edmonton Institution was threatened with disciplinary action several times by prison brass for wearing a self-purchased stab-proof vest on the job.

The guard, who asked not to be named, said he intends to keep wearing the Kevlar vest.

"Yes, I'm violating the rules. But management is stepping on my right to defend myself," he said.

Kevin Grabowsky, of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, said the notion that inmates might be "offended" is a "complete crock."

And that's our government in action. The last thing they want to do up here is piss off a criminal. After all, the criminals in Canada seem to have more rights than their victims. Oh yea, don't forget, prisoners in Canada are allowed to vote so, well .....you get the picture.


Cheers:

Wow, that is a very liberal viewpoint by the government. Placing all sides on a more even and level playing field where no one individual feels "uneven" :) I mean one wouldn't want to send the wrong signals to a prisoner who somehow landed his or her self into a MAXIMUM security prison. While they are at it, perhaps they should rename it so the prisoners won't feel like they are in an institution designed to hold them back from society. Hmm something like, Escape Challenged Hostel? :) (just poking a little fun)

I don't know RoadClosed the achronym would be ECH, sounds like a bad taste in your mouth. These inmates deserve something better, something more positive like "PRIMO" Persecuted but Really Innocent Men Oppressed. This would be a Bed and Breakfast of course.

Common guys this is canada...did you expect any difrent?

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Originally posted here by bballad
Common guys this is canada...did you expect any difrent?

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Hey, easy on the Canadian bashing :D . This is the Canadian government & bureaucrats at work, this is not the average Canadian at work. If it were my choice, the guards would not only be allowed to wear the vests, but it would be mandatory for them to wear them.


Cheers:

I believe the guards should be wearing them for their own safety, the guards should know the risks of when it comes to being around inmates who have alot of time on their hands and if a inmate is given a chance to cause physical harm to a guard they will take the chance to do so.

This all started when they gave prisoners soap with drop-proof strings. Now they just want more and more privaleges... :D

Correct me, I have an American centric viewpoint. But don't guards carry guns? Isn't that the ultimate in "discrimination", based on lack of "dynamic security"? Oh wait this is Canada... :D <---- sorry didn't mean to bash. :p

I know the guards who touch the prisoners probably don't wear arms, but I would wager there is a gun hiding someplace?

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Originally posted here by RoadClosed
Correct me, I have an American centric viewpoint. But don't guards carry guns?

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I believe, even in America, guards that are out in the "general population" only carry the most basic of weapons (e.g. Nightstick, pepper spray...etc). Now when some 6 foot something neanderthal with one eyebrow comes up to you and pulls out a homemade 10 inch blade, it's going to be a little hard to say, "Wait here a second....I got to get my 9m, I'll be right back". :D

Cheers:

Uhhh. They're in prison right? Murderers, rapists, whatever? Do we really care about hurting their feelings by wearing body armor?

I personally think that body armor gives the right message. "I'll survive, you won't"

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Wait here a second....I got to get my 9m, I'll be right back".

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Lol, that's what I see too. I meant like up in the catwalks and guard towers. They have guns and big spotlights and stuff.

this thinking on "the right side" has just gone way too far. i think out socities need a real big shot of testosterone.

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Originally posted here by Tedob1
this thinking on "the right side" has just gone way too far. i think out socities need a real big shot of testosterone.

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Yeah give 'em all a real big shot! BOOM! :D

Actually I think we could really learn something about other socities. Just look at some of the early american punishments. The Arabs used to chop off a few arms or hands when someone would steal. And lets not forget all of the hanging and head choping that used to go on in other areas of the globe... even for minor crimes or something most of which would barely even seem criminal to all of us now days.

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The Arabs used to chop off a few arms or hands when someone would steal.

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This is true "used to" in some of the more "Westernized" countries that are members of NATO or have reformed themselves out of the 12th century, but many have not. In fact the mass religion of Islam has never had a "reformation" as others such as Judaism and Christianity, even the Morman church had a "reformation" in the 1800s. The Catholic Church has had many reformations, the latest being Vatican II in the 60s. So they STILL chop off hands and heads but the stonings are getting more rare. They use dump trucks now, back it up to the woman that cheated on you, who is tied to a stake, and dump. While a crowd of men cheer and spit. At one beheading they even sold t-shirts. Can you believe that? Maybe I'll dig it up and scan it. Yes I bought one because I could't believe it. It was titled, "Double Header" sort of mocking American baseball.