Thunder Bay jail closure causes delays in local justice system

Thunder Bay - With the heating issue at the Thunder Bay District Jail still unresolved, local defence lawyers are having difficulty contacting their clients, and delays are occurring in court.

At the end of November, the jail's boiler system failed, and inmates were sent to other Ontario prisons, some as far away as Winnipeg.

"This has caused problems with phone conferences, video conferences, and of course meeting clients in person," said Brooke Rogers, a criminal defence lawyer in the city and executive member of the Thunder Bay Law Association.

Rogers said not all correctional facilities comply with judges' orders to have individuals appear in person.

"What happens often is trials are adjourned, pleas are adjourned, bail is adjourned," she said.

Rogers said not all facilities have Zoom or phone conference capabilities for lawyers to discuss cases remotely, and even when they do, reviewing disclosure with clients over the phone or video is challenging.

"The first issue is privacy," Rogers said. "We often hear people talking about us in the background. Obviously, you want privacy when discussing things with your client. On top of that, many accused face challenges that make it difficult for them to process cases well over the phone or video. Getting instructions in person is often the best option, especially when you need written instructions."

"It's definitely a challenge," she added.

Inmates sent to jails outside the city are also taken away from their families and support systems. They are sent to different prisons, and for those held in southern Ontario, the drive can be up to 15 hours.

"It's really hard on them, and they have the right to meet with their lawyer in person and to appear in court in person," Rogers said.

In December, a temporary heating system was installed at the Thunder Bay District Jail, and 50 inmates returned. At the time of the initial evacuation, there were over 180 inmates in the jail.

Anthony Rojik, president of Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 737, which represents correctional officers at the Thunder Bay District Jail, said Tuesday they are currently holding 50 to 70 inmates.

"These inmates are classified as maximum security, don't meet the housing security level at the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre, or must appear in court in person," Rojik said. "We will maintain these housing numbers until repairs are complete. If the system fails during repairs, evacuation within a few hours is manageable."

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre was holding 60 inmates evacuated from the district jail.

Earlier this month, a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Attorney General told Newswatch that temporary repairs have been completed and a permanent solution is being evaluated.

"Inmates transferred to jails outside Thunder Bay will not return until a permanent solution is implemented," they said.

Source: https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/trials-pleas-bail-seeing-delays-with-inmates-scattered-across-province-10107660