Geoff's observations agree with those of prison guards interviewed for this story. Guards are demoralized by the upcoming changes, so much so that they spend all their time talking about who will lose their jobs. There's going to be guys who want to try and muscle. There are the guys who pick on the weaker ones. The notion that a video camera or computer screen could ever take the place of such human intervention seems absurd, at least to the prison guards, prisoners and prisoner advocacy groups who are most familiar with the reality of jail life.
People just become so suspicious and paranoid.
They're being watched, but they can't see who's watching them or when. Your American dream just might turn into an American nightmare. He grants, denies or delays that access depending on what sort of story he thinks will be written. In our opinion, a government employee's duties should not include control over access to institutions owned and operated by the province of Ontario. Nor should a public servant prevent communication with prisoners of the province who feel they are in life-threatening situations.