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| Unrest in Canadian Women's Jail Called 'Cry for Help' |
| By Edmonton Sun |
| Published: 05/20/2003 |
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A May 13 standoff at the Edmonton Institution for Women involving two inmates came amid mounting tension over lack of access to support programs, says the Elizabeth Fry Society. The prison remained in lockdown until about 10:30 a.m. May 14 after the two prisoners - one complaining about access to a methadone program and the other demanding a phone call - emerged from a barricaded cell the night before with non-life-threatening self-inflicted wounds. Bev Sochatsky, executive director of the Edmonton chapter of the Elizabeth Fry Society, said she will meet the prison warden this week to discuss concerns about support programs. 'It's a cry for help,' said Sochatsky. 'Women tend to turn pain inwards, in contrast to men who tend to lash out. 'There aren't the range of programs in place - we have concerns about the way some things are handled. Sometimes it's the straw that breaks the camel's back.' Prison spokesman Audrey Hatto said the institution's emergency response team pulled two inmates from a barricaded room at about 7 p.m. May 13. Paramedics were initially called to the maximum-security unit earlier in the day amid reports of slash wounds. Hatto said both women had minor self-inflicted wounds and no one else was hurt. She said an internal investigation has been launched but no decision has been made on whether to ask city police to investigate. Sochatsky said Elizabeth Fry staff have been involved in ongoing discussions with the prison over the inmates' lack of access to the gym, the library, telephone calls and support networks led by aboriginal elders. Some inmates are also upset because a ceiling has been placed on the number of women who can take part in a methadone program, she said. |
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