Inmate’s mother terrified after assault
Sandi Young says her son left to suffer with broken jaw for four days inside Thorold jail
Sandi Young remains terrified about the safety of her 19-yearold son, after she said he was severely beaten last weekend while in custody at Niagara Detention Centre.
“He got beat in the bathroom. Five guys jumped him. My son’s jaw, he can’t move it from left to right,” she said. “He can barely open his mouth and he’s black and blue all over.”
Despite repeatedly contacting detention centre and Ministry of the Solicitor General staff following the assault pleading with them to send Gage to the hospital, Young said, her son was left to suffer for four days with a broken jaw.
Young said she called for an ambulance herself, dialling 911 from the parking lot of the Thorold institution. She said paramedics who responded were not permitted inside the facility and were told a registered nurse was taking care of Gage’s injuries.
But following a court hearing Tuesday morning, she said, Gage — he was arrested this spring on weapons and crystal meth drug charges — was transported to St. Catharines hospital where he underwent surgery to re-break his jaw bone, properly set it and wire it in place.
“The bottom line is there was no medical attention. What was their big problem that day? Why couldn’t they have sent him out (to the ambulance)?” she said. “They would have just set it and he would have been in a lot better position than he is now.”
Young said her son was kept in hospital to recover until Thursday, when he was returned to the detention centre and placed in segregation away from other inmates.
Ministry spokesman Andrew Morrison said he could not discuss specific cases. However, he said “all inmates have access to health-care services, which are provided at all of the ministry’s correctional facilities.”
“The ministry has policies and procedures in place for the delivery of health-care services, and for ensuring that inmates receive necessary health assessments when they are admitted, and as needed during their custody,” he said in an email.
“Inmates who require specialized health services or hospitalization would be accommodated accordingly. Decisions about health-care matters are between inmates and medical staff. The ministry does not interfere with medical decisions or direct medical professionals.”
Young said her son has been in legal trouble several times over the past few years.
“He’s always had problems with ADHD, he’s had problems with anger. There’s a whole list … It’s not like he’s had 40 years of
criminal records,” she said. “He’s made mistakes.”
Young said her son pleaded guilty to charges against him during a hearing Tuesday morning, prior to his surgery. She hopes that following her son’s Aug. 22 sentencing he will be transferred to the Ontario Correctional Institute treatment centre in Brampton where he will get the help he needs.
“Regardless of what he’s done, he can be changed — once he gets to OCI and has treatment,” she said. “He never wants to go back now as it is.”
But considering the recent assault, she said she’s terrified he might not make it.
“I want him to make it to OCI treatment jail and come out at end of his sentence alive and treated,” she said.
Regarding the violence that led to Gage’s injuries, Morrison said the “women and men who work in correctional facilities have a challenging job, with a population that has complex needs.”
“Correctional facilities across Ontario manage risks of inmate violence on a daily basis.
“All correctional officers receive comprehensive training to do their jobs effectively and handle a variety of different situations,” he added. “The ministry has policies and procedures in place for dealing with violence and other inmate disturbances.”