By 650 CKOM

Prisoner transfers underway following deadly riot at Sask. Pen

Dec 23, 2016 | 5:18 AM

A number of prisoners at Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert are now serving time at other facilities. They’re being moved while an investigation and clean-up continues at the Pen. following a deadly riot which left parts of the prison uninhabitable last week. 

 
“There have been a number transfers out,” Correctional Service of Canada spokesperson Jeff Campbell confirmed.
 
He couldn’t confirm how many inmates have moved or where they’re now staying, citing the Federal Privacy Act. 
 
Campbell added the focus right now is getting the facility back to a normal routine. Repairs are currently underway as is a review by corrections and the RCMP investigation.  
 
“All those are going on at the same (time), so it’s a very, very  busy place to be,” Campbell said.
 
According to James Bloomfield, of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, the facility had been on a modified routine for a few days before the riot due to issues raised by inmates working in the kitchens regarding food portions.

The resulting riot left one inmate, Jason Leonard Bird, dead. Two inmates suffered stab wounds, while six more were injured when guards fired shotgun pellets to regain control of the unit.
 
Campbell would not comment on what sparked the violence, saying the investigation will answer those questions.
 
“What we would be looking at, is any available information on the incident itself. Are they’re lessons to be learned? Does something to need to be changed? Establishing a sequence of what went on when. Who was involved,” he said.
 
According to Campbell the lockdown at the prison is still in effect and there’s no timeline when it will be lifted. 

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