Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Frank Caputo found himself in a political firestorm last week after publishing a video criticizing the incarceration of notorious serial killer Paul Bernardo.
Caputo kicked off controversy on March 3 after posting a video on social media about his visit to La Macaza Institution in mid-February with members of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers. He visited the prison, located outside of Montreal, to find out how Bernardo was living since being transferred from a maximum security prison last year.
“I believe there’s a place for minimum, medium and maximum security prisons. The question really is how should a person who has committed the worst of the worst offenses be confined?” Caputo asked.
In his video, Caputo described how the medium-security prison felt more like a university campus than a prison, noting that high-security prisons are much more contained and secured. He said he visited Bernardo’s cell and when he turned to leave came “eye to eye” with the serial killer, who he reported looked “well fed.”
Caputo said he became outraged when he later saw a skating rink that doubled as a tennis court. He listed other facilities he said Bernardo had access to including a gymnasium, workshop and weights room.
“One of the worst criminals in Canadian history is actually living better than most Canadians,” Caputo claimed.
However, following the release of his video Corrections Canada put out a statement providing context for some of Caputo’s statements and casting doubt on others. Corrections specifically noted the skating rink hasn’t been in use for the last two years, due to warm conditions, and that they had no record of the MP interacting with Bernardo.
“As this visit was by the MP and union representatives, they are better placed to respond to questions about specific events that occurred,” spokesman Kevin Antonucci said in an email.
However, he added, “it is our understanding that participants did not interact with Paul Bernardo during their visit.”
Caputo admitted that he had no reason to believe Bernardo had ever made use of the ice rink, but asserted it could happen. Officials at the prison told him that when in operation inmates could check out skates and there were hockey nets on the side of the rink.
He added he didn’t think it was appropriate for Corrections to be playing “word games” to impune his credibility.
“I will put my observations under oath, if necessary. I stand by every single thing (I said). In fact a union member went on record yesterday (Tuesday, March 4) with CFJC and corroborated everything I said,” Caputo said. “I never once said I interacted with Paul Bernardo. That was their word, not mine. I said we came face to face.”
Caputo said that the Liberal Government, through the passing of Bill C-83 has “legislated a regime” requiring people to be held in the least restrictive environment. The prison service has said procedures were followed and Bernardo had long met the criteria to be reclassified as a medium-security inmate — decisions Ottawa says are made at arm’s length from politicians.
As a former crown prosecutor, Caputo acknowledged there is a place for rehabilitation in prisons, however, he was adamant that individuals like Bernardo, the “worst of the worst” could not be rehabilitated and should be held in maximum security prisons for the duration of their sentences.
Bernardo admitted to sexually assaulting a dozen women in the late 1980s and murdering three with his then-wife Karla Homolka, including Homolka’s younger 15-year-old sister Tammy. He was sentenced to life in 1995 and has been labeled a dangerous offender, meaning it’s unlikely he’ll ever receive parole.
“There are a lot of people who can be rehabilitated and are rehabilitated. The reality is that most people who go into jail are going to come out of jail,” Caputo said. “Jail has to have a rehabilitative component, but the operative question we should be discussing is what is the just type of incarceration for those individuals like Paul Bernardo?
“(I think) they should remain in maximum security. The amenities that are present at medium security, in my view, are not suitable. Everyone is entitled to humane treatment and human rights. You do not have a human right to tennis court, a human right to a pool table and you don’t have the right to pick up hockey as you please.”
Caputo said he plans to request an emergency meeting of parliament so the public safety committee can examine Bernardo’s current living situation. He added he there are other issues related to Canada’s correction system he is looking into, but said at this time he’s not ready to disclose any specific details.
With files from the Canadian Press.
