(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Corrections

Police investigating violent incidents at P.A. Correctional Centre

Jan 21, 2020 | 5:00 PM

Three separate violent incidents at the men’s correctional facility in Prince Albert are now part of an ongoing investigation by the Prince Albert Police Service and the Ministry of Corrections and Policing.

The altercations took place Dec. 12, and Dec, 31 of 2019. and as recently as Jan. 16. In each case one inmate was taken to hospital, but there has been no information provided regarding the extent of the injuries. In relation to the most recent incident, police have indicated three people are facing charges.

The Saskatchewan Government Employees Union, which represents the correctional officers at the jail, was made aware of the incidents. President Bob Bymoen told paNOW these types of “serious” incidents have become too common, and added many stem from issues related to a lack of programming and overcrowding.

“Along with overcrowding it makes it more and more difficult to separate the gang members who would like nothing better than to potentially kill somebody, or beat somebody from the other gang up,” he said.

The specific details of what happened during the three separate incidents remains part of the ongoing police investigation, but in the meantime Bymoen said he is very concerned about union members’ safety.

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“There are not too many days that go by that I don’t wonder how they are doing inside these centres because when I get together with them they express these concerns,” he said. He added he worries about guards working alone.

“Just the risk of inappropriate allegations against that corrections officer is such a high potential that it’s inexcusable,” he said.

Moving forward Bymoen said he wold like to work with the Ministry of Corrections and Policing to find a solution, which he suggested may come from a review of the Occupational Health and Safety policies.

“Some of this will take budget and government dollars, but what is a life worth,” Bymoen said.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell