Corrections investigator concerned over Springhill deaths
Posted Aug 10, 2015 02:35:56 PM.
Last Updated Aug 11, 2015 08:05:08 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SPRINGHILL, N.S. – The federal correctional investigator says he’s concerned about the number of deaths in federal prisons after three in Nova Scotia facilities in just over three months.
Howard Sapers made his comment yesterday after learning a 63-year-old man died in his cell at Springhill Institution on Friday.
A news release from Springhill Institution says Terrance Matchett, who was serving time for aggravated assault, was found unresponsive and staff were unable to revive him with CPR.
Matchett’s next of kin have been notified of his death.
A spokeswoman for the prison says police and the coroner have been notified, and the Correctional Service of Canada will review the circumstances of the incident.
It comes in the wake of the deaths of 22-year-old Camille Strickland-Murphy, who committed suicide at the Nova Institution for women in Truro on July 28th, and 38-year-old Veronica Park, who died while in custody at the same jail on April 24th.
Sapers said in the first four months of 2015-16 there were 31 deaths across the country, while in all of the prior fiscal year there were 67 deaths.
He says he’s concerned that if the trend continues Canada will have a higher rate of death in custody than in the previous fiscal year.
