Jail riot no surprise: prisoner advocate

The Manitoba director of an inmates-advocacy group is expressing no shock that a riot broke out at a provincial jail in Brandon on Sunday.

John Hutton, executive director of the Manitoba chapter of the John Howard Society, said Monday that overcrowding and lack of community-based resources to supervise accused persons awaiting trial is to blame for the fracas.

One inmate suffered minor injuries in the riot at the Brandon Correctional Facility.

The melee lasted four hours, during which 27 inmates smashed walls, broke several things and started a small fire.

The facility was originally built to house 160 inmates. At the time of the riot, it held 282 prisoners.

Most Manitoba adult jails overfull

Hutton said overcrowding is a serious problem at all provincial facilities, including the Winnipeg Remand Centre in downtown Winnipeg.

Of seven adult jails in Manitoba, six of them were over capacity Monday, according to the Manitoba Government Employee's Union.

The remand centre was more than 100 people over capacity.

"It's not uncommon for people to be sleeping in the gym — for there to be 50 people sleeping in the gym — which means the gym can't be used for its original purpose," Hutton said.

"People aren't getting the benefit of being able to blow off steam playing volleyball or basketball."

Hutton said the province needs to implement a community bail program where accused persons can be released and properly supervised until they have their day in court.

He also said a mental health court needs to be created so people who suffer from mental health-related issues aren't housed in overcrowded jails.

Hutton also estimates that 70 per cent of inmates are involved in gangs, creating security issues in jails.