Some BC jails release nearly 100 inmates early

Four inmates at the Prince George Correctional Centre have been granted an early release in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

They are among nearly 100 from nine jails across the province that were let out between March 1st and April 2nd.

Stephanie Smith is the President of the BC Government and Service Employees Union who told MyPGNow.com the majority of those released were serving intermittent sentences.

“These are inmates who come and report to the jail on the weekend and then serve the rest of their sentence in the community and so it makes sense that all the back and forth would, in fact, increase the risk of bringing COVID-19 into the jail.”

Smith states it’s not just the inmates or corrections officers they are thinking of.

“Foodservice workers and we have administrative support staff and other support staff within the jail system and I am sure these decisions were made looking at criteria when balancing that community safety as well as the safety of inmates and those that work in the jail.”

“As a union, we have been pushing right from the beginning to work with corrections putting in as many mitigating measures, protocols, and policies as possible calling on the jail to really enforce social distancing and screening of new intake.”

Last week, Health Officials announced responded to a confirmed case of COVID-19 at the Okanagan Correction Centre.

In addition, 11 inmates at a federal prison in Mission tested positive for the virus.

“Dr. Bonnie Henry did identify that jails and prisons are high-risk environments, not dissimilar to residential care. They are high-risk and there is a greater risk of a spread of the infection to the population and as I said, ideally what you want to do is ensure you are doing enough to prevent the spread of the virus from getting into the jails,” added Smith.