The president of the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union says over crowding, understaffing and increasing gang violence is creating a crisis situation at provincial correctional facilities.
SGEU President Bob Bymoen says a government decision to put on hold the construction of a new remand centre in Saskatoon is only adding to the problem.
He adds a new policy of “gang sprinkling” – mixing together members of rival gangs – further increases the potential for violence.
“For some reason they think that these guys are going to become friends and what it is doing is creating very volatile situations,” he says.
Bymoen also says the dismal situation in Saskatchewan jails is making it difficult for the province to hire and retain employees.
“A lot of people are quitting. Especially the new hires, they come in and they realize what it really means to work in there and be a corrections worker and to make your 20 some dollar an hour job – it ain’t worth it and then they quit.”
He adds a general lack of respect by management for corrections workers is only increasing tensions.
The province recently came under fire after a microphone, disguised as a smoke detector, was discovered in the staff kitchen at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre.
Bymoen also says corrections workers are being suspended for extended periods of time if they try to break up physical altercations between inmates.
He says this means guards are increasingly hesitant to become involved in these altercations out of fear of management retribution.
Drew Wilby, an official with the Ministry of Justice, confirmed that the Saskatoon Correctional Centre does have a policy in place where members of rival gangs are mixed together on the range.
He also confirmed that a fight did occur between two rival gang members on June 29 at the Saskatoon jail and this did result in one inmate being sent to hospital.
However, Wilby emphasized provincial corrections would not knowingly put in place any policy that would put either staff or inmates at risk and the policy may be reviewed.
“Obviously the number one concern in any of our facilities is ensuring the security and safety of our staff, the inmates and also the public who may be visiting that facility and no decision would be made that would unnecessarily put that at risk,” he says. “Obviously these operational decisions are made from time to time and incidents such as the one on June 29 may lead to a review of that policy to see if it is still meeting its original needs.”
Wilby also said he is not aware that newly recruited employees at correctional facilities have been leaving in large numbers and corrections is working to ensure incidents that have involved employee suspensions are reviewed more quickly.