TORONTO, On. – An expert weighed in on the use of prisoner labour, following a proposal from Ontario’s opposition leader to force inmates to work.

If he wins the October election, Conservative leader Tim Hudak said he’ll force provincial inmates to earn their keep – doing things like raking leaves and mowing grass.  

Former New York City Corrections Commissioner Martin Horn said, such programs can be great tools, just don’t expect them to provide 100 per cent security.

“There are ways to manage the risks; there are ways to diminish the risk, but there’s no way to eliminate risk. Will some inmates escape? Will some inmates walk away? It’s possible, and anyone who tells you it’s not is lying.”

Horn said programs that get inmates working outside their jails help them make the communities they’ve harmed whole again.