This will be the first comprehensive review of custody conditions in a Sask. jail by the provincial ombudsman in more than two decades.
Saskatchewan’s ombudsman says she is investigating “significant concerns” about conditions and inmate experiences at Pine Grove Correctional Centre.
Ombudsman Sharon Pratchler said her office is inviting women who have been incarcerated at the Prince Albert facility to contact her office if they have been “adversely impacted by experiences or conditions” during their time at Pine Grove.
“We are aware of significant concerns through complaints made to our office, and decided it is in the public interest to investigate,” Pratchler said.
A “fair and impartial process and trauma-informed approaches” will be applied during her investigation, and her office will issue a public report, including any recommendations, once the investigation is complete, she added.
The time it takes to complete the investigation will depend on how many people come forward and the issues that are raised, the ombudsman said.
This will be the first comprehensive review of custody conditions in Saskatchewan correctional centres by the provincial ombudsman in more than two decades.
In 2002, then-ombudsman Barb Tomkins issued a special report — entitled “Locked Out” — in which she reviewed inmate services and conditions of custody in provincial correctional centres.
According to spokeswoman Leila Dueck, the information collected will determine the scope of the public report.
“We haven’t provided examples of the complaints we received because we want to invite people to contact us and we don’t want them to think that those are the only things we are interested in,” she said.
“We want to open the door for them to contact us with any concerns they may have about their experiences or the conditions at Pine Grove.”
The investigation will consider to what degree trauma-informed practices and Truth and Reconciliation principles are incorporated into the treatment of people in the care of Pine Grove.
Nicole Obrigavitch, executive director of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan, last year said overcapacity issues are a symptom of a bigger crisis with respect to housing and resources. Obrigavitch described a “severe” lack of housing and resources for people with addictions, mental health, poverty and intergenerational trauma.
Ombudsman Saskatchewan receives complaints from people who think they have been treated unfairly by a provincial or municipal service.
To report concerns to the ombudsman’s office, people can call 1-844-608-1180 (toll-free) or 306-787-423 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; file a complaint form through the website ombudsman.sk.ca; write a letter to the ombudsman at 500 – 2103 11th Avenue, Regina, SK, S4P 3Z8; or request an in-person meeting with the ombudsman or an office member. According to the ombudsman, staff will travel to communities in the province to make it easier for people to speak with them.
A position of knowledge keeper/carrier and elders’ helper has been created at the ombudsman’s office; the job is scheduled to begin in September.
— With files from Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative
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