THE SYSTEMOut of Sight, Out of Mind

"Crime takes place in the community. Itinvolves all citizens either as victims oroffenders or at least as people who have topay for the system."

Larry Krotz,Waiting for the Ice-Cream Man... a prison journal

The System: User's Guide

The criminal justice system In Canadaaffects all Canadians. The degree towhich each individual is affected by thesystem relates to one's involvement,either directly or indirectly, in thatsystem.

The film examines the prejudices,myths, and concerns about thecriminaljustlce system, through theeyes of children, inmates and theirfamilies, community leaders andprofessionals. Those opinions arecontrasted with the stark reality of theadmissions procedure at a maximumsecurity penitentiary.

The film is primarUy designed toevoke discussion. It offers nosolutions and avoids any attempt todebate a particular point of view.

Instead, it examines numerous issues,both intellectually and emotionally onthe premise that the opinions of anyindividual on the topic of criminaljustice in Canada are worthy ofrecognition, Including those of theaudience.

The System — An Overview

s~DIRECT INVOLVEMENT

VOLUNTARY

- policeman- lawyer-judge-guard.- Solicitor -

GeneralDepartmentofficial

V

INVOLUNTARY

- inmate- spouse of

inmate- child of

inmate-victim- jury member

INDIRECT INVOLVEMENT

VOLUNTARY

- communityworker

- politician- psychologist- priest- social worker

of inmatefamily

INVOLUNTARY

- taxpayers- citizens- neighbour of

inmate family-Inmate's

ex-boss-inmate'sex-co-worker

- children- teacher

A

Objectives Information Questions For Group Discussion

1. To stimulate discussion about thecriminal justice system InCanada.

2. To create awareness in thecommunity that the fate of acriminal is the responsibility of thewhole community.

3. To encourage critical analysis ofviewers' attitudes towardssocially unacceptable behaviour.

Suggested Uses and Levels

Grades 8 -12

Social Studies, Guidance,Values Education, Psychology,

Criminology.

Colleges and Universities

Criminology, Social Work,Education.

Service Clubs andSelf-Help Groups

Professionals

Police Officers,Corrections and Parole Personnel.

• Canada ranks 6th in the world for thenumber of persons in prison.

• Of Manitoba's prison population, halfis native Indian and Metis.

• Approximately 50% of personsentering federal penitentiaries havecommitted nonviolent offencesagainst properly— Le. offences againstproperty rather than against persons.

• It costs approximately $17,000. tokeep an inmate at Stony MountainPenitentiary, Manitoba.

• 80% of the persons admitted tofederal penitentiaries havepreviously been in prison.

• The average age of inmates at StonyMountain Penitentiary, Manitoba is24 and getting younger.

The following questions are for the useof discussion group leaders and socialanimators who intend to use the filmwith general audiences. They are by nomeans the only questions that can beasked. Group leaders should promotediscussion on whatever level seemsappropriate.

1. Prisons are full of people whobelieve that they can beat thesystem. What aspects of our societyencourage the existence of this

'* attitude? Is the fear of reprisalreally a deterrent?

2. A great deal of money and humanresources are tied up in the criminaljustice system in Canada. Yet 80% ofthe persons in federal penitentiariesare repeaters. Why is the prisonsystem unable to carry out itsfunction to rehabilitate criminals?

3. One of the children says thatprisoners are "caged like animals".Can attitudes of self-control andresponsibility develop in anenvironment of social control? Canhumanity be preserved behind bars?

4. What does the system do to thosewho work within it? Do attitudestowards prisoners change withexperience working in the prisonsystem? What are some alternativesto the system as it now exists?

What is the System?Does the System work?

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ues Clarification ExerciseFor Classroom Use

.'. 'These questions have been developed toencourage Individual responses to the

I film and should be given out beforeI group discussion. Used in this way, thet film and the questions should• encourage a critical appraisal of the• values and attitudes held by each

« viewer.

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films

These titles are available from NationalFilm Board libraries across Canada.

Cell 16/10600171 11114 minutes 23 seconds — colourDimly-lit corridors and claustrophobicviews of a prison cell create a powerfulimpression of one man's mental state whileIn prison. Unstructured fragments of theprisoner's writing give us a vision of themental torment that can be part of aprisoner's experience.

Prison/106C 0175 17910 minutes 20 seconds — animationBlack and white animated drawingsIllustrate one man's experience as aprisoner from the day of his arrival untilhe comes to terms with his imprisonment.An effective sound track heightens thepsychological impact of this film.

The Sloane Affair/ loec om 569B3 minutes 27 seconds — colourA dramatized Investigation of a tax fraudwhich explores the world of businesscrime. The film is a good reminder that notall people who come before the courts aresociety's outcasts.

Station 10/iOoC 0173 00187 minutes 80 seconds — colour and b 9 wThis fast-moving film documents the dallyroutine of a large urban police station inMontreal. Although some sections aresuitable only for adult viewers, the film isan excellent treatment of the difficult job ofpolice work, and could be used with olderhigh school students.

Tears Or More/ioec 0170 56326 minutes 48 seconds — colourA straightforward documentary about theprison system as it was ten years ago inCanada. The differences between maximumand medium security penitentiaries areoutlined, and one prisoner is followedthrough to a release under supervision in ahalfway house.

Thin Line/ioec 0177 01232 minutes—colourThe federal penitentiary at Benataguisheneis where the criminally insane receivetreatment that may involve a totalrebuilding of personality. Because of thecontent of some of the treatment sessions,this film should be used with discretion.

Whistling Smith/ ioec 0175 oil27 minutes 20 seconds — colourThe life of a big city cop is not easy — but"Whistling Smith's" approach to upholdingthe law in his district is one way of dealingwith potential criminals before they breakthe law.

Attica79 minutes — colour — 1973Available on rental from New Cinema,35 Britain Street, Toronto, Ontario.M5A 1R7, Telephone: (416) 862-1674A feature length documentary about theAttica State Prison riot. The film combinesinterviews of the participants with footage ofthe insurrection and subsequentinvestigations.

Scared Straight54 minutes — colourAvailable for rental or purchase fromInternational Tele-Film Enterprises,47 Densley Avenue, Toronto, Ontario,M6M5A8, Telephone: (416) 241-4483The film follows a group of 17 juvenileoffenders — ages 14 to 18 — before, during,and after their half-day at Bahway StatePrison in New Jersey. There they areintroduced to the toughest convicts whobarrage the kids until they are humiliatedand perhaps forced to rethink their lives.

CBC films, which are available from mostNFB film libraries in Canada, include thefollowing titles which might be of interest

to users of "The System".

Criminal Negligence106C 0177 249 — 50 minutes 55 seconds

Dreamspeaker106C 0178 053 — 76 minutes 02 seconds

A Question Of Rape106C 0177 250 — 50 minutes 45 seconds

Regina Vs. Willis106C 0177 266 — 50 minutes 17 seconds

Trafficking In Narcotics106C 0177 272 — 50 minutes 10 seconds

_

Bibliography — General Reading

THE CRIME OF PUNISHMENT, by KarlMenninger, The Viking Press / MacMlllanCompany of Canada, Library of CongressCatalog *66-lB905,1966-68.

CRIME AND YOU, by A M. Kirkpatrick andW. T. McOrath, The MacMlllan Company ofCanada, Maclean-Hunter Press, 1976.

CRUEL AND UNUSUAL, by Gerald McNeilwith Sharon Vance, Deneau & Greenberg,1978.

THE FELON, by John Irwln, Prentice-HallInc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey —07632,1970.

KIND AND USUAL PUNISHMENT: THEPRISON BUSINESS, by Jessica Mitford,Vintage Books, Random House, New York,1974.

REPORT OF THE CANADIAN COMMITTEEON CORRECTIONS (OUIMET REPORT) —TOWARD UNITY: CRIMINAL JUSTICE ANDCORRECTIONS, Queen's Printer, March 31,1969.

REPORT TO PARLIAMENT BY THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON THE PENITENTIARYSYSTEM OF CANADA 1977. Available bymall from. Printing and Publishing, Supplyand Services Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1AOS9, ($3.60).

WAITING FOR THE ICE-CREAM MAN...APRISON JOURNAL, by Larry Krotz andJohn Pasktevich, Converse, Winnipeg,Manitoba, 1978.

More Advanced ReadingBECOMING DEVIANT, by David Matza,Prentice — Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NewJersey, 1969.

CLOSING CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS,by Yitzhak Bakal, Lexington Books,Lexington, Mass., 1973.

CRIME AND JUSTICE IN SOCIETY, byRichard Qulnney, Little, Brown & Co., Inc.,Boston, 1969.

DECARCERATION: COMMUNITYTREATMENT AND THE DEVIANT — ARADICAL VIEW, (Sociology), by Andrew T.Scull, Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cltffs,New Jersey - 07632,1977.

DEVIANCE AND CONTROL: THE SECULARHERESY, (Sociology), by Terence Morris,Hutchlnson of London: The Anchor Press, 3Fltzroy Square, London West One, England,1978.

LAW AND SOCIAL CONTROL IN CANADAby W. K. Greenaway and S. L. Brlckey,Prentice — Hall of Canada Limited,Scarborough, Ontario, 1978.

THE SYSTEMOut of Sight, Out of Mind

Director:Editor:

Cinematography:Assistant Cameraman:

Location Sound Recording:Sound Editor:

Technical Advisor:Re-recording:

Stlldio Aiiir^niffin*jife>i*!

Executive Producer:

Derek MazurTom YappAllan KroekerIan ElkinLeon JohnsonBillEakinStan FalconerClive PeriyCharles LoughMichael Scott

Jay Edwards, inmate played by Jay BrazeauPhoto by John Paskievich

Produced byThe National Film Board of Canada, Prairie Region

for The Canadian Correctional ServiceDepartment of the Solicitor General, Canada

; '• ,f. '. ;•'.'•;,-'' • "Distributed by

The National Film Board of Canada

106C 0178 687—16 mm Colour116C 0178 687—3/4 inch video cassette Colour

Screening time: 19 minutes 26 secondsRunning length: 213.4 metres

National Office PrairieFilm Board national du film Regionof Canada du Canada Production

Printed in Canada