Say Anything Blog

A prison guard in Canada has been the target of disciplinary actions from his employer due to the fact that he wears a stab-proof vest while on the job.

From The Calgary Sun:

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.

In a way, this is kind of like the military in Iraq asking soldiers not to display the flag because it might offend some Iraqi's.

You gotta love this quote: "you're sending a signal to the prisoner that you consider him to be a dangerous person..." Well, aren't they dangerous people? Why else would they be in prison? Canada hasn't started putting nice, law-abiding people in prison, have they?

When did the self esteem of criminals become more important than the safety of law enforcement?