Escapee Evjen becoming 'progressively more violent'

Convict Shawn Evjen (inset) was likely itching to get back to robbing banks and stores, terrorizing clerks and tellers by waving a gun or knife in their faces, so that he could earn some quick cash, enough to feed his addiction to heroin, alcohol and other drugs. It might be the simple explanation for his decision to scale two fences at Bowden Institution, a medium-security prison in Alberta, to escape Sept. 14 – just two months after his early release was yanked and he was thrown back in prison for committing new crimes. His parole records (reproduced after the jump) reveal the depths of Evjen's narcissistic addiction to crime and violence and his refusal to change. He is as frightening as any sexual predator. He seems to enjoy terrorizing his victims and he's indifferent to their suffering.

Evjen refuses to follow any rules when he gets out of prison, so it shouldn't be a surprise that he escaped. He wants to be on the street, stealing and shooting up, and scaring people in the process. He has screwed up while on early release from prison at least four times, according to the parole records acquired by Cancrime, most recently in July 2009, after he was charged with a slew of crimes committed while he was on statutory release (that's automatic freedom, not parole). He was charged with armed robbery, disguise with intent, having a weapon for a dangerous purpose, pointing a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm and resisting arrest. The parole board said:

You have once again returned to well established patterns of relapse back into your crime cycle. Your previous pattern of criminal behaviour involves extensive substance abuse, violating the conditions of your release and escaping custody. Your behaviour on this release mirrors your past behaviour indicating that you have not internalized the discipline necessary to manage your addictions and, therefore your risk. In short, you have made no progress at all while in the community.

Keep in mind we're talking about a guy who is now serving a 24 and a half year sentence for armed robbery and other crimes. The sentence began 24 years ago, in 1985. At that time, he was sentenced to seven and a half years behind bars, but his repeated reoffending while he's been free from prison has more than tripled the original term. Evjen is, as some would say, doing life on the instalment plan. His criminal record is now three decades deep, beginning with break ins and drug crimes in 1979. He has becoming progressively more violent. In prison, he has assaulted other convicts and staff.

Below are the written records of National Parole Board decisions in 2007 and 2009 to revoke Evjen's freedom:




When Evjen's early release was yanked two years ago, it was clear that he doesn't care who he hurts when he's on a robbery rampage:

Your criminal offending has been well established over the years and you have not been hesitant to use violence, weapons, and the threat of violence in order to achieve your criminal intent. In addition to your convictions for violent offences, you have been charged with many others that did not result in conviction. It is your most recent offending behaviour that has been the most violent and you have shown little regard for the welfare of others whom you offend against either directly or who may have been present at the scene of the crime and were impacted by your actions.

This was a significant, embarrassing escape for Corrections Canada from a medium-security prison with tall fences, armed guards and video surveillance. As this story notes, it highlights again that Canada's prison service is so strapped for cash that prison managers continue to leave watchtowers that look over the perimeters of prisons empty most of the time to save money (they're still doing it at many medium- and maximum-security federal pens). Corrections doesn't learn from its mistakes, it seems. That practice was a key factor in the escape 10 years ago of bank robber Tyrone Conn from maximum-security Kingston Penitentiary.

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