This is how the Okanagan Correctional Centre will look to an inmate. The South Okanagan CC will be the largest facility for housing remand and 2 year less a day sentenced individuals in BC. Average stay at OCC will be 69 days.
The 378 unit building will contain 10 male groups of 36 (each grouping is separate and it is most likely that most inmates will only know who is in their group). There are 18 units for females. Some of the cells will house two inmates when demand for accommodation is high in the province.
75 people showed for a public forum in Okanagan Falls this afternoon but it appeared to a meeting about getting facts – employment and business connections. There were no negative comments or outbursts.
Earlier in the day in Penticton a small group of 20 people from the public joined City Council in hearing the same 90 minute presentation by BC Corrections. At the Penticton meeting there was one person who spoke and was totally not in favour of any jails, prisons or correctional facility in her back yard.
Here is some real news:
1. The final submissions from the shortlisted group of 3 builder/architects/maintenance companies are now in and staff at BC Corrections say that selecting the preferred contractor is the next step in the schedule towards a completion of the project in late 2016.
2. 500 construction jobs are included in the planning with 500 spin off jobs from a project of this magnitude.
3. 245 direct government jobs in correctional officer staff 38-49 thousand dollar annual wages. This does not include contract employees for medical services and food services.
4. On Vancouver Island – when the regional correctional centre was built in a remote area – later hundreds of homes were built around the facility with no concern.
5. In the last five years there have been 13 inmates that walked away – 12 from work parties with only one serious case of escaping from a staffed facility.
6. Of the 167 correction officers needed 60 percent will be coming from within the service and 40% will be hired and trained in Okanagan.
7. BC Corrections Branch will utilize water, sewer, and geo thermal heat/air from the Osoyoos Indian Band in a business contract.
8. The P3 contractor will have to maintain the building for 30 years unlike other building projects where a builder walks away after construction.