(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

‘Nobody goes to work expecting to get hurt or to be thrown in the middle of a gang fight’: union representing correctional officers

Sep 4, 2019 | 6:02 PM

The union representing provincial correctional officers is calling on the Sask. Party government to address what it calls a powder keg ready to explode.

According to a news release from the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union (SGEU), there has been a rise in violence in recent months at both the Saskatoon and Prince Albert Correctional Centres.

SGEU President Bob Bymoen said the violence has been happening between inmates as well as against correctional officers.

“It isn’t acceptable that when you get hired as a corrections officer you should expect that. Nobody goes to work expecting to get hurt or to be thrown in the middle of a gang fight,” he said.

The Saskatoon Provincial Correctional Centre recently had two violent incidents which injured four inmates. But other centres, such as Prince Albert Correctional, has had as many as three or four inmate assaults a day according to a SGEU news release. The union made a number of recommendations on how the government can do a better job as an employer.

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“They need to look at their staffing levels at times, you know. Not just based on the numbers of inmates but also the clientele that they have and the mix they have of the different gangs inside these centres,” Bymoen said. He added more rival gang violence and an inability to keep these factions apart due to a lack of beds is resulting in increased clashes between these gangs.

Bymoen added the stressful work environment has also affected how long people are willing to work in corrections. He noted in every other workplace if there is a serious issue Occupational Health and Safety gets called in to investigate. Bymoen said he would encourage the government to take that approach at the province’s jails as well.

“They are tough issues but we have to got to find results. Our members are entitled to a safe place to work,” he said.

In an interview with 650 CKOM, Drew Wilby, with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice, said there is no indication that violent incidents are increasing in the province’s correctional facilities. He explained the ministry continues to review the recent incidents at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre to determine what occurred and how similar incidents can be prevented in the future.

Wilby added, gangs are something jails deal with on a daily basis, and decisions about where to best house members of various gangs is just one consideration that has to be made to ensure safety at each facility.

— with files from CKOM staff

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell