For Immediate Release
"A Failure to Respond"
Correctional Investigator of Canada Releases
Report On the Death of a Federal Inmate
OTTAWA, May 21, 2008 - A
report into the October 2006 death of an inmate has found
Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) staff failed to respond adequately to a medical
emergency, allegations of discrimination toward a First Nation offender who died,
inaccurate communications about the incident, and excessive delays in the investigative
process.
"Unfortunately, these disturbing findings continue a well documented pattern as
detailed in numerous reports from this office, by the Correctional Service's own
national investigations and by provincial coroners and medical examiners," said
the Correctional Investigator, Mr. Howard Sapers.
The Correctional Investigator's findings concerning the circumstances surrounding
the death were consistent with internal investigations conducted by the CSC. Both
organizations' reviews concluded staff who attended the medical emergency failed
to perform their duties by not determining the nature and extent of the inmate's
wound and not administering first aid in the 30 minutes prior to the arrival of
an ambulance. Moreover, the inmate was left alone, locked in his cell, and unmonitored
for large portions of this 30 minute period. For their failure to administer first
aid and failing to action any attempts to save human life, four CSC employees directly
involved in the incident received disciplinary sanctions. These sanctions ranged
from ten to twenty days without pay.
Further, allegations were made by both offenders and staff that the inmate's race
played a role in the failure of staff to reasonably respond to the medical emergency.
These allegations were not reasonably addressed by the Correctional Service at the
time they were made.
"Yet again we find that the Correctional Service falls short in its legal mandate
to preserve life and quickly act on recommendations related to inmate deaths. We
will continue to see tragic deaths like this until the Correctional Service implements
corrective action in all its institutions to improve mental health services, address
the program needs of inmates and improve staff responsiveness to emergency situations,"
said Mr. Sapers.
Key recommendations in this latest report by the Correctional Investigator on the
death of a federal inmate include that the Correctional Service:
- Develop new policy requiring responses to medical emergencies be videotaped.
- Immediately deliver a Diversity Awareness/Sensitivity Program to all CSC employees
across Canada.
- Share all information related to incidents of death and serious injury with police
in a timely manner.
- Develop a policy on how CSC management is to address allegations of discrimination
against offenders when those allegations originate with CSC staff members or when
they are raised during the course of an investigation.
The Correctional Service has received the Report and has committed to a full response
to its recommendations. After reviewing the Report, the Service has also convened
a Fact Finding Investigation in the allegations of discrimination.
The deceased's name is not included in the Report at the request of his family and
in consideration of privacy legislation.
The Correctional Investigator is mandated by an Act of Parliament to be an independent
Ombudsman for federal offenders. This work includes ensuring that systemic areas
of concern are identified and addressed. The report into the circumstances surrounding
this death, as well as the 2007
Deaths in Custody Study which examined 82 reported suicides, homicides,
and accidental deaths of prisoners while in custody of the Correctional Service
during a five year period from 2001 - 2005, are on the Correctional Investigator's
website at www.oci-bec.gc.ca.
-30-
For further information:
Ivan Zinger, LL.B., Ph.D.
Director of Policy and Senior Counsel
Office of the Correctional Investigator
(613) 990-2690
zingeriv@oci-bec.gc.ca