A report of the use of administrative segregation in Saskatchewan’s correctional facilities shows that over eight-in-ten inmates are Aboriginal.
The 2016 audit says 82 per cent of the 542 incidents of administrative placements over a three-month period were Indigenous, 39 per cent were under the age of 25 and 56 per cent were in remand.
NDP critic Nicole Sarauer says the high rates demonstrate that First Nations people are overrepresented in the corrections system.
“This is something we need to be concerned with, and it’s something we need to be looking at addressing, especially in light of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action,” said Sarauer.
Minister of Corrections and Policing, Christine Tell, says a higher First Nations prison population would indicate higher segregation rates.
“The likelihood of First Nations people being in administrative segregation would be high because First Nations people are highly represented in our facilities,” Tell explained.
The audit team found that there is not a clear understanding of what is required to place or maintain an inmate in segregation. The audit also discovered that approximately half of the segregated inmates had diagnosed mental health issues — 46 per cent for men and 70 per cent for women.
Sarauer says confining these people by themselves for much of the day is most likely worsening their mental health.
“Putting people with diagnosed mental health issues [in administrative segregation] are not doing anything to address their problem — frankly it’s probably making them worse,” said Sarauer.
Yet, Tell says the government is examining how inmates with mental health issues are receiving treatment in prison. She says the ministry is constructing a facility in North Battleford designed to address mental health.
“Once this comes on stream, we’re expecting this to be an incredible opportunity to ensure we recognize the level of mental health issues in our facilities,” Tell said. “We’ll take the most serious mental health inmates, the ones experiencing the most significant mental health issues and get them into that facility. Our number one goal is to help them and they not come back.”
Tell defended the use of administrative segregation, saying it’s used for the safety of the inmate, other inmates and the staff.
(PHOTO: A cell at a correctional centre. File photo.)