Overcrowding at women’s jail in PA an issue: SGEU

Nearly a year after concerns were raised about the number of prisoners at Pine Grove Correctional Centre, the union representing corrections workers at the Prince Albert facility is highlighting issues about overcrowding.

Currently, according to the Government of Saskatchewan, there are 197 prisoners in the 188-bed facility. However those numbers could swell into the winter months and this time last year the facility had a population of 212 with inmates being accommodated in the gym because of stresses across the whole system. Saskatchewan Government Employees Union President Bob Bymoen said when facilities are housing too many people, problems can arise.

“It just creates a really tough environment to house inmates, anyone that way and treat them in a humane way,” he said.

Specifically, Bymoen explained when facilities are forced to accommodate more people then they are designed for, inmates can be housed in makeshift dorms set up in spaces like gyms.

“When you start multiple bunking people in rooms, that’s dangerous,” Bymoen said.

Last year, the Elizabeth Fry Society, the organization that helps women inmates, called the situation dangerous with heightened stress and anxiety levels among the population, many of whom were suffering from mental health and addictions issues.

When it comes to dealing with the issue, the union president said they would like to see more staff made available during times when there are more inmates in a facility. Bymoen added there are limitations to what can be done inside the walls of current buildings and the issue of overcrowding is a problem at facilities across Saskatchewan.

“We hope the government finds a solution to it, it’s not easy,” he said.

Bymoen said members would be willing to work with the government towards finding a solution to the issues.

In an email to paNOW, Ministry of Justice spokesperson Noel Busse said staff work to make sure contingency spaces are safe. He added the number of people in the province’s jails, including Pine Grove tend to fluctuate over the course of a year.

Busse added the Ministry is currently looking at how to meet the need for spaces across the system, which includes looking at expansion or other means like working with community partners on programs such as reintegration leave.