Lockdown continues at N.S. prison

The lockdown at the Springhill Institution may not end until later this week.

The approximately 400 inmates at the medium security prison were locked down following an incident at the prison on Monday that occurred when a group of inmates refused to return to their cells when ordered.

“They’re still in lockdown and the investigation is continuing,” assistant warden Shannon Oickle said.

One inmate was injured during the incident.

He was sent to hospital for treatment and later brought back to the institution.

“We are in situation where we have to manage incidents at some points and our staff are trained to do that. It was certainly a situation that resulted in a lot of intervention by staff and good work was done,” Oickle said.

During a lockdown, inmates are restricted to their cells and their food and medication is taken to them.

All visits and programs are also suspended while the prison is in lockdown.

Olivia Tynes, the regional vice-president of the UCCOSACC that represents correctional officers, said she cannot comment specifically on what took place in Springhill.

She said the union will be conducting its own internal investigation.

“We do have concerns of what’s going on in Springhill and have been discussing things at the labour-management table,” she said.

“The situation in Springhill yesterday was very serious and could’ve been a lot worse.”