'Surge of violence' described inside Sask. Penitentiary after series of attacks among inmates
Over a one-month period, five assaults among inmates happened at Saskatchewan Penitentiary that involved "stabbing or slashing weapons."
That's according to a statement provided by Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) following a CTV News request.
The incidents took place between Nov. 16 and Dec 16.
"The inmates involved were assessed and were offered medical treatment by institutional health services personnel, as required," the statement said.
Two inmates were taken to hospital for treatment, according to CSC. There were no injuries to staff in the incidents.
During the same period, there were two additional "security incidents" where staff were assaulted by inmates, CSC said.
No weapons were involved in the staff assaults.
One of the staff members required treatment in hospital, CSC said.
"Ensuring the safety and security of its institutions, staff, inmates and the public is a priority," the CSC statement said.
"Disciplinary action is taken and/or criminal charges can be laid against offenders involved in violent incidents."
“There’s definitely been a surge of violence in that institution,” James Bloomfield, the prairie regional president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, told CTV News.
According to Bloomfield, violence and inmate deaths within federal prisons in the prairie region have been trending upward for the last three years.
“It has been for a multitude of reasons,” Bloomfield said. “We have a very high gang population within our prisons.”
He said gangs, drugs, the loss of segregation and "inadequate repercussions" has contributed to the surge in violence.
"There is an unbelievable amount of drugs with our institutions at this point,” said Bloomfield.
Bloomfield said correctional officers need better tools to deal with drone drops and throw-overs of drugs and weapons into institutions.
He said “aggressors” of violence aren’t being addressed properly by the courts or within institutional operations.
“When we have segregation that was removed by the courts and replaced with structured interventions units, we end up with those not being utilized in situations like this,” Bloomfield said
He said a large number of maximum security inmates that have been downgraded and mixed in with medium populations.
“We have no real ability to house individuals away from others anymore in a way that gets to stop some of the violence.”
The pandemic has also complicated the situation within prisons, according to Bloomfield.
As of Dec. 20, Saskatchewan Penitentiary has a total inmate population of 717, including 100 offenders in maximum security, 421 offenders in medium security and 121 offenders in minimum security.
It has a rated capacity of 835 beds, says CSC.
It also has 350 correctional officers. CSC says it has implemented national standards for the deployment of correctional officers for all of its institutions.
“The standards ensure all institutions are properly staffed with correctional officers, to ensure static and dynamic security across the institution and provide consistent levels of supervision and ensure an appropriate response capacity,” says CSC in a statement to CTV News.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.