Curtis Cozart. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Inquest

Jury calls for better policies at prison as Cozart inquest wraps up

Feb 26, 2020 | 4:26 PM

Content warning: This story contains content describing suicide.

A six-person jury consisting of three men and three women required less than two hours to deliberate as the inquest into the death of Curtis Cozart wrapped up Wednesday afternoon at Prince Albert’s Coronet Hotel.

The intent of a coroner’s inquest is not to find fault, but rather is a discovery of facts before a jury which then issues recommendations to prevent similar deaths.

Correctional officers found the 30-year-old Moose Jaw man hanging in his cell at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary on May 23, 2017. He was pronounced deceased in hospital the next day.

The officer who found Cozart did not have a radio, and had to go run for help before the inmate was cut down. Among the jury’s four recommendations was for all correctional officers to carry 9-1-1 tools after evening lock up, which can be used to help cut through material. In this case Cozart used his bed sheet as a noose.

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The jury’s second recommendation was any change in policy affecting correctional officers should be confirmed by signature that each officer had read and understood. Third, during security patrols, there should be no less than one correctional officer remaining in a central location. Lastly, any correctional officer should have the authority to dial 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.

At the time of his death, Cozart was seven months into a 30-month federal sentence for assault and theft charges. Shortly after Cozart’s arrival at the penitentiary in mid -October, 2016, he had several meetings with psychologist Dr. Robert McIntyre. During McIntyre’s testimony Wednesday, he recalled seeing several concerning attributes in Cozart’s behaviour.

“He was quite agitated and sweating,” McIntyre testified, adding Cozart attributed his anxiety to the prescribed medication he was taking at the time to treat his diagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

In the fall of 2016, the meetings between Cozart and Dr. McIntyre became less frequent and by December they stopped completely. McIntyre explained during that time the prison experienced severe staffing issues, due mainly in part from a prison riot which took place as well as contract negotiations with upper management.

As a result Cozart’s next meeting with McIntyre was not until early January. The Coroner’s Counsel Blaine Beaven asked McIntyre if he thought the lack of meetings played a role in Cozart’s suicide, and McIntyre agreed it did.

The final meeting between Cozart and McIntyre took place in April 2017 and according to the psychologist, it was very brief, lasting only a matter of minutes.

“He said he was doing great,” McIntyre said, adding Cozart indicated his relationship with his girlfriend was going well.

McIntyre explained the prison’s framework for assessing inmates underwent big changes since the incident. At the time Cozart was in custody, the assessment only looked for current signs or suggestions of intent to commit self harm or suicide.

McIntyre explained the current framework, which is still being rolled out, now involves looking at a patient’s history as far back as 10 years. In Cozart’s case there was at least one prior attempt to commit suicide and several attempts to commit self harm including at the time of hs arrest. When asked by Beaven if his assessment of Cozart would have changed had he known more about Cozart’s past , McIntyre replied he did not believe so, adding the extra information may have only helped speed up the interview process, as opposed to starting “cold.”

The province’s chief forensic pathologist was the final witness Wednesday and essentially confirmed the cause of death was asphyxiation by hanging. As a result of the injury, there was no oxygen or blood flow to Cozart’s brain for a “significant period of time” and despite the best efforts by correctional staff as well as staff at Victoria Hospital, he could not be saved. He was subsequently taken off life support close to 24 hours after he was taken to hospital.

On the night of Cozart’s death, correctional officers concluded the final inmate count at 10:30 p.m. and Cozart was found at 11:01 p.m. Presiding Coroner Tim Hawryluk asked Dr. Ladham if he could tell how long Cozart was hanging in his cell, prior to being found by the correctional officer.

Ladham replied he could not say for sure, but explained based on the injuries to Cozart’s neck, he estimated less than 15 minutes.

Cozart’s parents attended the hearing Wednesday but declined to speak to the media. They explained the publicized case put a lot of emotional strain on the family, especially for Cozart’s 10-year-old daughter who continues to struggle with the loss of her father.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell