‘Third World’ jail conditions alleged

Overcrowding cited as factor in death

Overcrowding at Windsor Jail — which may have been a factor in the death of a female inmate this week — has created Third World conditions, says a local defence lawyer.

Laura Joy, who represents several women currently housed at the jail, said it’s particularly bad for women because of different health and hygiene requirements, such as menstruation and pregnancy. Joy said clients told her lice has been going around and prisoners are kept three deep in cells meant for two people. She said one woman, suffering from back problems after a car crash, was sleeping on the floor.

“There has to be a certain amount of humanity and decency when we jail people,” said Joy.

“To be a civilized society, we have to give them some dignity. Last week, the ladies advised me it was particularly bad. There were three to a cell and lice was going around. That shouldn’t be happening in this day and age.”

“We’re not giving them any dignity. We can’t have prisoners in Third World conditions.”

A source in the corrections system told The Star overcrowding was likely among the factors that led to the death this week of Windsor Jail inmate Kendra Blackbird, 34.

She was in jail awaiting sentencing after stabbing someone on a city bus when she was found unresponsive in her cell. Blackbird died early Monday in Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital’s intensive care unit.

A toxicology report could take weeks.

It’s believed that an intermittent inmate — someone who serves time on weekends and lives in the community during the week — smuggled in drugs on which Blackbird overdosed.

The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services refused interview requests but spokesman Greg Flood wrote in an email that, on Sept. 30, there were eight intermittent prisoners at Windsor Jail.

On average, the jail had four intermittent prisoners at any given time over the last year. During the same period, there were 619 across Ontario.

The source said intermittent inmates are never supposed to be housed in the general jail population. One reason for that is to stop contraband from being smuggled inside.

But the source said overcrowding on the weekend led to the intermittent inmates being put in with the general population, which is how Blackbird got her hands on the drugs.

Prisoners coming in are stripped searched, the source said, but not cavity searched.

Flood said in his email that there are “thorough search procedures for all inmates admitted into our custody.

“Unfortunately, contraband is a reality for correctional facilities everywhere in the world and, despite all preventive efforts, there are times when it enters our facilities,” Flood said.

“When contraband is found, the ministry investigates the circumstances. If the contraband found is of a criminal nature, the police are contacted to investigate. The police are also contacted to investigate if there are suspicions that someone brought or attempted to bring contraband into a correctional institution.”

Joy said contraband and overcrowding is just one of many issues plaguing the jail, despite the efforts of staff there to maintain some standards.

“Overcrowding, understaffing, outdated building equipment,” said Joy. “All of these go hand in hand, and problems happen. It’s not the fault of the staff. But we are in a situation where we have deteriorating jail conditions. Even though the staff are doing the best they can, they can only do so much.”

“When we are going to incarcerate people as a society, we have a duty and an obligation to make sure conditions meet certain minimal standards.”