Security officer (S/O)
New correctional/prison staff that have completed the security officer training.
Segregation
When an inmate is being dissociated (removed) from the general inmate population. Specifically, defined as confinement for 22 hours or more a day without meaningful human contact. The correctional supervisor responsible for the segregation unit must give an inmate daily time out of their cell, a minimum of two and a half hours, for personal hygiene and up to one hour of daily exercise in the open air if weather and security conditions allow.
There have been words introduced to soften the meaning of this practice, such as Special Handling Protocols (SHP) and Supported Integration Placement (SIP).
SIP has three levels: SIP one, two and three. An inmate can graduate from SIP and be reclassified to a unit with regular hours. While on SIP, an inmate resides on a regular living unit but under supervision, and is entitled to a minimum of four hours a day out of their cell
Other language for this practice include: administrative segregation (segregation pending a disciplinary hearing under CAR 24), disciplinary or punitive segregation (an independent correctional decision-maker imposing segregation as a penalty for a prison rule breach under CAR 27), separate confinement (short term under CAR 17 and long term under CAR 18), voluntary separate confinement (an inmate agrees to be separately confined due to a serious risk of harm under CAR 19), segregation for medical observation and lockdown, and, informally, as the hole and seg.
Inmates can also be housed in isolation for medical observation on a unit typically attached to a segregation unit.
An inmate can also be held in a segregation cell temporarily when no other cells are available.
During the plea phase of the hearing, inmate Fenney said he was not well because he was not on the right medication but wished to proceed stating “I am guilty, but I am not guilty. I did it. I am not guilty because I am hearing voices and sometimes they talk to me. I was encouraged to do it.” He later shared “something is talking to me. It snuck up on me again. I am not doing well in segregation. It is messing me up and it makes me have suicidal thoughts. I don’t think I want to hang myself though.”
Disciplinary Hearing Coordinator (DHC) Michael advised that the entire Centre is on lockdown due to a Centre-wide investigation.
He said he acted in the way that he did because he has been kept in segregation for a long time, “they are not removing me and keeping me here.” He took responsibility for his behaviour and emphasized that he is frustrated with his segregation placement. To date, he has spent a total of 13 days separately confined. He shared that he has schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
He spent a considerable amount of time in segregation at the Centre for refusing to move due to safety concerns. He said when he did agree to move to a living unit, he was assaulted and then reclassified to segregation. On August 4, he was found in breach of section 21(1)(a) for refusing a placement option.
Officer Eric recounted that while doing laundry exchange, inmate Lopez took extra socks from the laundry basket and when he instructed him to return the extra pairs of socks because he could only have three, he responded in a loud and aggressive tone stating “I don’t want to go to seg. I can be violent. You cannot talk to me like that.” Inmate Lopez shared that being housed in segregation has been difficult for him. He is awaiting further psychiatric assessments.
The Indigenous Liaison Officer (ILO) was present in the hearing and asked that I impose more time in segregation as a last resort stating that seg is triggering his Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and will prevent him from participating in cultural arts and crafts programming.
Defined in the Correction Act Regulation (CAR) as “an area designated by the person in charge to segregate inmates.”
Shank
Homemade prison knife, also called a shiv. As defined in the Correction Act, a weapon is “anything designed to kill, injure or disable or is altered to be capable of killing, injuring or disabling.”
Mr. Jackson admitted to the charge for possession of weapons: a brown plastic knife with a sharpened tip and a television remote circuit board sharpened at one end.
Officer Luke alleged that he was instructed by the Correctional Supervisor (C/S) of operations to conduct a cell frisk of inmate Khalid’s cell. During the frisk, Officer Luke found two razor blades melted into the bottom of a green plastic toothbrush concealed within his mattress.
While escorting inmate Joe, a white piece of plastic fell out of his pant leg. The item was a toothbrush and a broken plastic knife taped together with bandaids with a razor blade attached at the end. The item was approximately the length of a pen. Later in the disciplinary hearing, inmate Joe said that he has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that he developed from being incarcerated, he made the item when he was bored and developed bad jail habits over the years.
Inmate Pawel testified in his disciplinary hearing that he was almost stabbed to death in 2017 in Abbotsford resulting in his legs being amputated. He elaborated that this was a very traumatizing incident which led him to experience severe PTSD and depression. He explained that he had the weapon, a small metal rod sharpened to a point, because he is particularly vulnerable without legs in a wheelchair and no one can protect him. He is scared to death, and the person who stabbed him is still unknown. He is concerned that at any moment someone could try to harm him and he would not be able to protect or defend himself. He apologized to the officers in the hearing room for having the shank.
The video evidence showed inmate Ross approach inmate Brent from behind making stabbing motions. The “foreign object” was not recovered by the Centre. Inmate Ross did not wish to provide information or evidence. Inmate Brent remains offsite at the hospital after he sustained a punctured lung.
He said recently four inmates had sent another inmate to attack him and one of them had broken a piece of plexiglass intending to use it as a weapon. He added that he would rather be charged than end up dead or with significant injuries. Leading up to the yard, he knew the four inmates were waiting for him.
He struggles with substance misuse which has impacted the trajectory of his life with being in and out of the correctional system. He has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from knife attacks in a maximum security correctional centre.
Shit bomb
Used when an inmate assaults an officer by throwing their feces at them through the hatchet, an opening on the cell door that is used to provide meals, also, the meal slot.
Mr. Kurtis is on medical observation confined in isolation (conditions of confinement akin to segregation). The correctional centre alleges that Mr. Kurtis threatened to shit bomb the charging officer (i.e., most commonly, when an inmate throws their feces through the hatchet when opened by an officer during feeding).
Shiv
Another term for homemade prison knife. Also called a shank.
Skinner
Disruptive inmate with irregular behaviour that is volatile, unpredictable, and causes disorder on the living unit, often associated with being on drugs or having mental health issues. Also a term used for a sex offender.
Inmate Sam had been up all night, pacing, talking, and “acting crazy” and his cellie told him to “shut up and go to bed.” But inmate Sam continued with more incoherent comments, including thinking that his cellie was a rat. His cellie testified that inmate Sam was freaking him out and kept getting louder and louder until 5:00am.
He agreed with the details of the allegation and explained that he hasn’t slept in three days because he recently entered custody and is waiting for the proper medication. He said he “can’t think straight” and the medication he is taking is triggering his anger. He said he needs Seroquel, an antipsychotic medication. He completed request forms to see healthcare and communicated with healthcare staff during morning rounds that he needs the proper medication. He apologized for smashing his cup on the staff desk and shattering his cell window.
Correctional Officer (C/O) Jack said inmate Burton told him he did not feel safe with another inmate on the unit so, as per policy, he directed him to go lock up in his cell and he would contact a supervisor. Instead, inmate Burton pushed the call button twice and became aggressive and attempted to push through the door leading to the security systems, a secure prison staff area. In response to the allegation, inmate Burton said he was not in the right state of mind because he was high on meth.
Snitch
Talking loudly about another inmate's behaviour in front of prison staff, or someone who rats people out or tells on them. Also, someone who freely gives up information to prison staff.
Inmate Pierre admitted to the allegation stating “guilty, I guess.” When I asked him to elaborate, he said “he is not trying to be a snitch.”
Inmate Geoffrey did not wish to provide information or evidence.
Solitary confinement
Another term for segregation.
Special Handling Protocols (SHP)
Refers to the conditions applied to inmates housed in the Special Handling Unit. Conditions can include restricted movement and routine and high supervision and control, for example, when an inmate is escorted by multiple officers and handcuffed behind their back.
His special handling protocols include: handcuffs, leg irons, and being escorted by two officers.
While Correctional Officer (C/O) Liu and Security Officer (S/O) John were applying leg restraints to inmate Jeffrey, he reached through the hatch and attempted to grab the leg restraints. When he was denied one or two clicks for his cuffing, he began to swear at the officers. Inmate Jeffrey said he asked for his cuffs to be loosened so that he could move around in the exercise room. Later in the hearing, he shared that he has Tourette syndrome.
Spit mask
Restraint device made of mesh fabric placed over an inmate’s head to prevent them from spitting or biting.
Later when officers got inmate Seymour off the ground, Correctional Supervisor (C/S) Moore started to talk to him, and at this time, inmate Seymour spat at him. A spit mask and shackles were applied and he was escorted to segregation. C/S Moore specified that inmate Seymour’s spit landed on the left side of his face including in his left eye... Spitting on a person is dangerous, especially during COVID, and due to the potential to contract other communicable diseases.
Officer Dhaliwal alleged that while attempting to get the inmate to comply with staff direction to be handcuffed from behind and leg irons to be applied so that he would attend video court, he told her to “fuck off” and then spat on her through the hatch door. In the hearing room, the inmate was wearing a spit mask.