Lockdowns common as HMP grapples with violence, drug use

Statistics released by the Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial government show drugs and violence are predominantly to blame for more than 200 lockdowns at Her Majesty's Penitentiary over the last three years.

• HMP on lockdown as unknown investigation continues

"The numbers are quite concerning but it alsoreflectsthe work environment that we talk about our correctional officers working in everyday," said Jerry Earle, president of NAPE, which represents correctional officers.

Over the last several years, HMP the largest jail in the province has seen numerous riots and violent attacks come to the public's attention.

Warning: Video of assault at HMP may be disturbing to some

9 years ago

Duration 1:05

Edward Owens assaulted Glen Maher at Her Majesty's Penitentiary in February 2015, and was sentencing for the crime Thursday

Statistics released through anaccess to information request shows the causes of more than 200 lockdowns at HMP between 2014 to 2016:

• Drugs: 64
• Assault: 78
• Weapons: 12
• Drugs/weapons: 2
• Assault/strong-arming: 1
• Strong-arming for medication: 20
• Disruptive behaviour: 14
• Drugs/homebrew: 1
• Destroying unit property: 1
• Threats of violence: 1
• Assault/drugs: 1
• Medical emergency: 3
• Drugs/strong-arming:
• Contractors: 2
• Disruptive/strong-arming: 1

At the West Coast Correctional Institutionin Stephenvile, just sevenlockdownswere recorded the majority happening in 2015.

• Assaults soar in Newfoundland's Dickens-era jail: 'It's a tinderbox'

An emergency hospital escort in 2016 resulted in a single lockdown at the Women's Correctional Centre in Clarenville.

No lockdowns were recorded at theBishop's Falls Correctional Centre or the Labrador Correctional Centre.

'Will only get worse'

First built in the Victorian-era, critics of HMP have long called for it to be destroyed and a new institution built a long-standing promise that has hung over many different provincial governments.

"We will continue to look for thisDraconianfacility needs to be replaced and if it doesn'thappen in the not so distantfuture,what we're seeing here will continue toescalateand will only get worse," Earle told CBC News Tuesday.

HMP lacks necessary programming and inmates are being housed in a facility that has far outlived its usefulness, Earle said.

Eric Squires HMP attack on fellow inmate

9 years ago

Duration 1:17

Eric Squires, 37, has pleaded guilty to a beating at Her Majesty's Penitentiary that left another man with fractures to his face

Most alarming is the number of assaults and drug-related incidents, something he says is indicative of what's happening in society.

"There's a number of creative ways that people find to get things in [to the prison], everything from things being sewn into clothing to the most simple of people firing things over the walls [of HMP]."

Earle said he plans on meeting with the Minister of Justice and Public Safety, and frontline correctional officers to discuss what can be done in the interim, while they wait for a new jail to be built.