Measures to curb remand numbers not yet in place
It’s expected measures intended to help curb Regina’s high remand numbers will be in place in the near future.
But, as of now, they haven’t happened.
“Right now, we’re very much in the infancy still,” said Maj. Wayne McDonough, executive director of Regina’s Salvation Army Waterston Centre which is slated to house 10 beds for low-risk remanded inmates.
“So in terms of having folks from the remand, that is not really occurring yet ... It’s just been a long process kind of getting the systems in place. So we’re geared up and we’ve been working very strongly with the government and the prosecutors and all that stuff, getting it all ready to work. But it’s not making a difference to the population yet.”
That population — specifically, the fact that it’s grown — is behind provincial measures intended to lessen the number of people sitting on remand, where accused individuals are housed while awaiting bail hearings, trials or sentencings.
Three decades ago, remanded inmates made up about 20 per cent of the average jail population. Today, it’s not unusual for those numbers to be sitting closer to 50 per cent.
Those kinds of numbers put a strain on facilities and those within them.
At times, areas designed for programming need to be converted into living space when overcrowding occurs. Drew Wilby, spokesman for the Ministry of Justice, said a recent increase in population counts at the Regina Provincial Correctional Centre led to such a temporary conversion.
“It’s not an ideal situation,” Wilby said. “Obviously, we would like to avoid that if at all possible. Yet in Regina, it’s not something that occurs very often.” It happens more often in Saskatoon, he said, since Regina — as the province’s largest facility — has more room.
Even so, Regina’s jail is continuing to struggle with the number of remanded prisoners. Recent numbers showed just over 1,900 prisoners across the province (down from 2,000 last month), with 1,023 of those sentenced and 882 on remand.
In Regina for that same period, the total number was 664, with 342 sentenced and 322 remanded — close to the uncomfortable 50 per cent mark. Wilby noted at the time the space had to be converted, the jail’s total numbers sat at 715.
The province has enacted measures to try to curb high remand numbers at Saskatchewan facilities, including an early resolution pilot project launched in Saskatoon and being expanded to Prince Albert. The project sees Sunday meetings between several people involved in the court process — including a prosecutor and defence counsel from Legal Aid — to discuss new weekend arrests. The measure allows a start on work on the case so an accused’s release can potentially be secured in court on Monday rather than needing to adjourn and adding to remand numbers.
According to April numbers, the pilot project was seeing 70 per cent of people released or sentenced at their first appearance. Wilby noted a current “shortage of prosecutors” in Regina means similar measures won’t be tried here just yet — although it’s hoped something similar will eventually be in place.
McDonough said he expects the community will see the Waterston
It’s basically life skills, providing direction and support and holding them accountable.
Centre’s remand beds being used within a few months. That program targets low-risk inmates, such as those with more minor offences or those accused of breaching release conditions or failing to appear in court.
McDonough said staff — including a registered psychiatric nurse — and community supports are teed up, ready to work with residents. He said the new unit’s staff will help residents with various needs while at the facility and, for a period of time, once released to help get them stabilized. The program is then geared to getting accused individuals connected with community supports for longer-term help.
“It’s basically life skills, providing direction and support and holding them accountable ...,” McDonough said. “We do believe that this will make a difference.”