Mr. Michael Donnellan:

I think that within the current resource allocation we have really tried to put a focus on rehabilitation. It makes no sense that anybody would leave prison worse than when he or she went in. Overcrowding really did not allow for much to be done, apart from crowd control and the warehousing of people. We now have an opportunity to have a debate about the importance of prison and its potential contribution for people. I believe that it is possible to engage people, in their hearts and minds, and to encourage them. Realistically, a lot of people come into prison with problems. We estimate that approximately 70% of people come into prison with an addiction or substance abuse problem. That is the reality and they do not give it up when they come into prison. They will use every opportunity to further that but we must be there to encourage change.