Dauphin jail where inmate died in 2016 will close by end of May, province says

A Manitoba jail where an inmate died in 2016 is set to close by the end of May, Justice Minister Cliff Cullen announced on Friday.

Cullen said the Dauphin Correctional Centre, which was built in 1917, no longer meets modern correctional needs.

In December, Cullen said there were no plans to build a new facility in Dauphin, a city about 250 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg — despite an inquest report that suggested problems with the facility may have been a factor in the death of an inmate.

Freeman Zong, 26, hanged himself in a shower area of the correctional centre on July 14, 2016.

Judge Christine Harapiak wrote in her report that because of the building's design, guards couldn't always see inmates or what was going on in the remand unit.

The inquest also found the design of the vents in the centre's washroom and shower areas played a role in Zong's death.

An official with Manitoba Corrections testified at the inquest that newer jails have more open-concept floorplans.

The NDP provincial government announced plans to replace the jail in 2013. Land had been donated by the City of Dauphin and surrounding rural municipality at the time, and a request for proposals was issued in 2014. 

Jail staff 'scared, confused': union

On a conference call with reporters Friday afternoon, Cullen said the decision to shut the facility down happened recently.

"It was a decision clearly not taken lightly, but with all the issues in context," he said.

Cullen said the province is "pretty confident" Manitoba's other correctional facilities will have enough space to hold the approximately 60 inmates who are serving time in the Dauphin jail.

NDP Justice Critic Nahanni Fontaine said the province did not adequately consider the impacts of moving inmates to other jails across the province and isolating them from their communities. 

"This premier just simply does not care… that folks are now going to be housed even further and further from their communities and their families," she said. "That is sometimes the only thing that these people have. And this premier, while he's sitting on the beach in Costa Rica, has taken that away from people."

Operations will begin winding down at the Dauphin facility, and it's expected to be closed by the end of May.

Cullen said the province will attempt to find employment elsewhere for the approximately 80 people working at the jail as corrections officers, administrators and nursing staff. He said about 10 per cent of staff are on term contract which are expiring.

"We will be respecting the collective agreement," Cullen said in the release. "We want to ensure a smooth transition and will be working with the union in the coming days."

Michelle Gawronsky, the president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union, said staff at the jail have been experiencing a range of emotions since getting the news Friday morning.

"They're upset. They're scared. They're confused. They don't understand what their future is," Gawronsky told reporters at a news conference Friday afternoon.

"This loss of so many good, family-supporting jobs in a rural community at a time when rural communities are struggling is devastating to the community."

Dauphin Mayor Allen Dowhan agreed, saying he had no idea the announcement was coming Friday.

"It's just devastating news to our community," he said. "This is just like, say, a resource-based economy, where suddenly the natural resources are gone and the community shuts down.

"We are a service community in our region, and a lot of it is gone."

He said he's worried about how losing the facility will affect people who have chosen to settle down in Dauphin.

"They're young families who have invested in our community. They're building their lives here, and we're losing that."

Cullen said because there are vacancies within corrections, there could be opportunities for any staff laid off to move within the department.

"We're optimistic there, but I don't want to get ahead of the discussions," he said.

Gawronsky said the union will meet with the province next week — but in the meantime, staff will be left wondering whether their jobs are in jeopardy.

"We've got way more questions than we do have answers at this point, which I find extremely unfortunate and very disrespectful to the members that are providing safety for Manitobans," she said.

Over $11M in courthouse renovations

Cullen also announced Friday that Dauphin's century-old courthouse, which is next to the jail, will undergo major renovations, at an estimated cost of more than $11 million.

The courthouse will be expanded to include more holding cells, improved accessibility and new administrative and office spaces for court staff, sheriffs and judges. The renovation will also bring improved video-conferencing and meeting spaces for lawyers and their clients, Cullen said.

Cullen said the investment in technology at the courthouse will allow the province to work more efficiently and make it easier for families and communities to stay in contact with incarcerated people.

"We don't want to be shipping Manitobans across the province," he said. "We're looking forward to a day when less people are on the roads and we have the technology, that video conferencing capability, so that these individuals can be before a judge."

The design will be finalized in the coming months, with plans to minimize disruptions during renovations.

"Providing accessible, efficient justice services to those living in Dauphin and surrounding communities is a priority, and these investments will support further modernization of Manitoba's courts," Cullen said.

If you're experiencing suicidal thoughts or having a mental health crisis, there is help out there. Contact the Manitoba Suicide Prevention and Support Line toll-free at 1-877-435-7170 (1-877-HELP170) or the Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868, or text Kids Help Phone at 686868.