Critics of the government's tough-on-crime bills say not enough is being done to help victims and to rehabilitate offenders. As the Harper government pushes its tough-on-crime agenda, critics and victim advocates argue that spending on programs must keep pace with money for bricks and mortar.

Marjean Fichtenberg of the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime told CBC News the justice system already focuses on the offender at the expense of the victim.

"And this law-and-order agenda, where they're building more prisons, is still leaving the victim out because it's still focusing only on the offender."

Fichtenberg's 25-year-old son, Dennis, was murdered in 1993 by a convict out on parole because the RCMP wanted him to work as an informant. Since then, she's been an advocate for the rights of victims.

In promoting the government's efforts to mete out more punishment, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews and Prime Minister Stephen Harper frequently invoke the plight of victims, arguing that society owes it to them to hand out stiffer punishments and put more people behind bars.

'This law-and-order agenda, where they're building more prisons, is still leaving the victim out because it's still focusing only on the offender'—Marjean Fichtenberg, Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime

"Taking the bad guys out of circulation for a while, does it cost money?" Stephen Harper asked during one of his many speeches defending his government's agenda. "Yes. Is it worth it? Yes, just ask the victim."

Fichtenberg says victims groups support ensuring criminals are punished, but they're trying to overcome an "image of victims as being vengeful and waiting for nothing more than punishment for the offender."

One way to protect victims is through preventive measures, such as giving offenders the programs they need while in prison, Fichtenberg says.

Corrections Canada offers four key programs to help inmates deal with violence and substance abuse.

Spending on the violence prevention program is increasing, but spending in other areas is declining, according to figures provided by the correctional service in response to Liberal public safety critic Mark Holland.

Analysis: CBC News/Source for data: Correctional Service of Canada

The federal government, meanwhile, is preparing to spend anywhere from $2 billion to $5 billion (depending on whose figures you use, the government's or the Parliamentary Budget Officer's) because of its so-called "truth in sentencing" legislation, which will force inmates to spend more time in prison.

"We're going to see rising recidivism rates if this continues," Holland told CBC News. "Because if people are not getting programs and services in prison, they don't get better. All evidence shows that."

Even before the government introduced laws aimed at keeping people locked up longer, Corrections Canada was having trouble delivering programs. Not because the service lacks the expertise but because there is a lack of staff, space and money, says Howard Sapers, whose office acts as an ombudsman for inmates.

Sapers told CBC News the new laws coming on the books will make this situation even worse at a time when offenders have complex problems, such as drug addictions and mental illness, in addition to their history of violence.

Programs not keeping pace

The federal government wants tougher sentencing for some offences, a move that may cost billions. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)He says only about one in five inmates has access to programs such as anger management and substance abuse. According to an analysis by CBC News, the correctional service's spending on those programs is being dwarfed by the increased money set aside for more cells.

"So they're spending longer and longer in custody, often at higher and higher security levels, which means they're going to get less access to programs," says Sapers, of the Office of the Correctional Investigator.

"And when they are eventually released, it means they're being released without the benefit of those interventions, which we know work. We know those interventions prevent crime. So it's a bit of an irony that the longer we keep these people in custody, the less they'll be supervised in the community and the less prepared they'll be for release into the community. So it's the worst of all possible outcomes."

Those outcomes are now a matter of an increasingly heated debate. Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff recently announced that his party, which has supported the tougher laws up until now, will reject Bill S-10. Among other things, the bill proposes a mandatory six-month sentence for possession of as few as six marijuana plants. Liberal opposition would end the initiative, which the NDP and Bloc Quebecois already oppose.

The proposed legislation "isn't tough on crime," Ignatieff said in defending his party's decision to withdraw its support. "It's dumb on crime."

As well, the Harper government is under increased pressure to provide a total price tag for its tough-on-crime agenda. Citing "cabinet confidence," various cabinet ministers have refused to divulge a figure.

If you have any comments on this story, or any other aspect of the government's tough-on-crime agenda, please feel free to contact me at david_mckie@cbc.ca.

With files from Karina Roma