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By Nigel Maxwell, paNOW
A woman on remand at the Pine Grove Correctional Centre is alleging extensive abuse at the hands of correctional officers, including claims she was gassed and pepper sprayed, and that she was placed in segregation for more than 40 days simply because she made too many requests.
Joline Jaques, a 21-year-old Métis woman, contacted the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) and its Provincial Territorial Organization, the Association of Métis, Non- and Status Indians of Saskatchewan (AMNSIS). CAP National Vice-Chief Kim Beaudin told paNOW he was very disturbed by what he heard from Jaques, and what he claimed continues to occur in the facility.
“I can’t believe that guards would do that to somebody, treat them like they are not even human,” he said.
According to the statements, Jaques was put in segregation (solitary confinement) as the facility’s response to her ongoing mental health struggles. After 41 days in segregation, her calls for help and support, while shackled at her arms and legs, were met with only violence, pepper spray, and being gassed.
In one instance, Jaques was allegedly dragged to the showers to be sprayed off in her clothes and left there with no means to warm up. After 15 hours in the showers, she was dragged back to segregation where she was stripped down naked and left again with nothing to keep warm in the chill of the night in an already cold cell.
Beaudin said these are the kinds of stories you’d expect to hear from other countries, adding too often the public perceives people are getting a free ride in jail.
“No, no and no, that’s not what’s going on behind closed doors here,” he said.
Beaudin, who as of Wednesday had spoken to Jaques three times, said he was very worried about her and explained she needs mental health assistance, not to be traumatized over and over.
“To me, this is nothing more than an assault. They can’t justify their behaviour by not calling it that,” he said.
CAP is calling on administrators of Pine Grove Correctional Centre to immediately to fire the correctional officers responsible. Beaudin said he completely believes the stories Jaques had shared with him, explaining there have been several other witnesses who all share the same story.
“And I’ve also heard other disturbing accounts of the way women are being treated in that facility — Indigenous women — over the last two years for example and it’s always the same pattern. It’s a pattern that I don’t even how come the powers that be over there can’t rein it in,” he said.
When asked to elaborate on what specific demands Jaques was making, Beaudin said she was simply asking for mental health assistance, and when she requested to lodge a complaint, she was refused provision of the necessary documents.
Alleged abuse prompts hunger strike
Sharise Sutherland-Kayseas, who has been in custody at Pine Grove since Dec. 19, 2020, started a hunger strike on Monday in support of Jaques. Her mother Dina posted a statement to the Beyond Prison Walls Facebook page.
“She says she will go for as long as she can. It’s not for herself but for this Metis woman specifically that has been spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically and sexually abused by correctional guards and their superiors,” she said.
Dina Kayseas also explained her daughter is calling out for Support of “Joline(Metis)” who has issues related to mental health and is not being treated as a human within Pine Grove’s brick and iron walls.
“She is calling for attention to be brought to the issue at hand and for the voices not to be silenced. People need to understand that they need to come forward about what they experienced or are experiencing while incarcerated so we can head towards genuine healing as a whole,” she said.
Response from Ministry of Corrections
In a statement provided to paNOW, the Ministry of Corrections explained its primary concern in any of the province’s correctional facilities is the safety and security of staff, offenders and the facility itself.
“While we are unable to speak to incidents involving specific inmates when allegations like this are made, the ministry reviews the circumstances internally to ensure proper processes and policies are being followed,” the ministry said.
The statement then goes on to explain that individuals in Saskatchewan’s adult facilities have complex and varied health needs that require significant and extensive health-care services.
“Facility staff and public health authorities work to ensure offenders receive appropriate care,” the statement read.
The ministry also explained it has contracts with health professionals or the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) to meet the physical and mental health needs of inmates.
“The ministry works to ensure all people are treated fairly in the criminal justice system,” the statement continued. “Our Code of Conduct requires corrections staff to actively work to ensure everyone in the correctional system is afforded dignity and respect.”
