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By Canadian Press

AT LEAST 104 INMATES, 20 STAFF INFECTED

Prison justice society urges ‘drastic action’ as COVID-19 spreads in Calgary jail

Nov 3, 2020 | 2:36 PM

CALGARY – The president of the Alberta Prison Justice Society is calling for drastic action after almost two-thirds of inmates at the Calgary Correctional Centre contracted COVID-19.

Amanda Hart-Dowhun has written an open letter to Alberta Justice Minister Kaycee Madu and his deputy, as well as to the Alberta Health Services medical director for correctional facilities and the director of the provincial jail.

Hart-Dowhun notes the outbreak has grown to infect at least 104 inmates and 20 staff at the Calgary jail.

She cites a CBC News report in which inmates describe living in filthy conditions, being forced to sleep on the floor and receiving intermittent medical attention.

She says the conditions described in the article are like a third-world prison cell and are far below the legal standard for inmates in Canada.

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Hart-Dowhun is calling for immediate action that could require releasing inmates temporarily into the community.

(The Canadian Press)