(file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

COVID-19 response

Inmates growing restless as active cases drop at Sask. Penitentiary

Jan 12, 2021 | 8:00 AM

While the number of active cases at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary continues to drop, a man serving a five-and-a-half year sentence at the institution is calling for some form of compensation if restrictions are not eased soon.

An audio recording of a conversation between Kendall Sutherland and his fiancée was provided to paNOW. Sutherland said the lack of time of fresh air and the limited recreation time is having a big impact on the mental health of the inmates.

“It’s making a lot of people stir crazy in here… a lot of people most times don’t know what day it is,” he said.

Among the measures the CSC has taken in recent weeks to limit the spread of the coronavirus at the prison is restricting movement of the inmates, which includes reducing the allowed time for exercise and time spent out of cells. Sutherland claimed inmates are not being provided with information about the pandemic response, and added proposals submitted by the inmates to address the issues are being ignored.

“We’re not saying we’re better than other people. We are just saying we deserve what we are entitled to by law and if they’re not giving that to us then I feel we should be given some sort of compensation,” Sutherland said.

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As of Monday’s update from the Correctional Service of Canada, the situation at Saskatchewan Penitentiary appears to be improving with 33 active cases — down from 69 last Thursday. Since the onset of the first confirmed case at the prison last month, there’s been 2,538 tests conducted with a total 244 positive cases. This represents the most of any institution in Canada.

Over the weekend the prison also reported its first death related to COVID-19; the fourth of its kind among federally-sentenced inmates but the first in Saskatchewan.

The inmate’s next of kin have been notified of the death and there has been no further information provided.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell