Province ‘constantly reviewing’ jail capacity

The provincial Ministry of Corrections and Policing is “constantly reviewing” whether capacity at provincial jails is meeting current and future needs, and this includes looking at whether expanding existing facilities or “other means” are needed to address issues of overcrowding, according to its communications staff.

In a statement issued Wednesday, staff said there’s a “natural ebb and flow” to the number of offenders the correctional system receives. At times when occupancy is “higher than capacity,” facilities make use of contingency space “as necessary,” the statement added.

One of the facilities that has seen capacity pressures is the women’s jail, Pine Grove Correctional Centre, located on the edge of Prince Albert, which has sometimes housed inmates temporarily in gym space.

As of Wednesday, Pine Grove has 188 beds, but 197 inmates, according to numbers provided by the ministry.

The ministry’s prepared statement said it’s working with partners in the community to address overcrowding through reintegration leave, reintegration units and other remand projects.

Bob Bymoen, president of the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union, which represents the province’s correctional workers, said staff raise concerns about overcrowding at all provincial jails “all the time.”

When inmates are double bunked because of overcrowding, he’s heard from staff that they don’t have the resources to monitor those situations the way they’d like to, he said.

“They’re overcrowded and that’s the bottom line,” he added.