February 22, 2019 – Burnaby – Prisoners’ Legal Services
Maximum security Kent Institution has canceled Prisoners’ Legal Services’ legal clinics for segregated prisoners, despite the BC Court of Appeal’s January 7, 2019 order that segregated prisoners must be provided enhanced rights to legal counsel.
PLS has been providing the bi-monthly clinics to prisoners in Kent’s segregation unit since February 2015. PLS started the clinics in recognition that prisoners with severe mental health issues often end up in segregation. These prisoners may not know that legal services exist or seek out legal services by phone.
Research demonstrates that segregation can result in depression and feelings of hopelessness. Symptoms of existing mental disabilities can be exacerbated in segregation. The United Nations considers the use of solitary confinement for more than 15 days, or for any amount of time for someone with an existing mental disability, to constitute torture or cruel treatment.
“Some prisoners with serious mental disabilities end up doing a cross-country tour of maximum security segregation units, in what feels like an endless cycle of isolation. These prisoners may not know that legal help is available to them in British Columbia”, said Jennifer Metcalfe, Executive Director of PLS.
“Some prisoners with mental disabilities need to develop a trusting relationship with legal service providers, which can only be done face-to-face. The clinics were intended to ensure that the most vulnerable prisoners have access to legal services to assist them to get out of solitary confinement as soon as possible”, said Ms. Metcalfe.
On January 15, 2019, Kent’s Assistant Warden of Management Services notified PLS that Kent has canceled the clinics without explanation. PLS followed up with the Warden of Kent on January 18, 2019 and with the acting Deputy Commissioner for the Pacific Region on January 28, 2019. PLS did not receive a response until after it contacted CSC Commissioner, Anne Kelly, on February 6, 2019.
On February 8, 2019, Cari Turi, the acting Pacific Region Deputy Commissioner for CSC confirmed the cancellation of the clinics, citing the BC Court of Appeal’s January 7, 2019 order for additional policies and procedures in relation to segregation as the reason that Kent is “no longer able to accommodate the group clinics”.
“We are dismayed that Kent is not following the spirit of the BC Court of Appeal’s order by further restricting segregated prisoners’ access to legal support when they need it the most”, said Ms. Metcalfe.
Media contact:
Jennifer Metcalfe
jmetcalfe@pls-bc.ca
604-636-0470