HMP riot video shows what prison guards are up against: Carol Furlong

The president of the union representing prison guards says the video of the February riot at Her Majesty's Penitentiary in St. John's shows the kind of struggles guards face.

Carol Furlong, president of NAPE, said she hopes the video will show the public what prison guards are up against.

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The video shows a group of inmates involved in a riot in the HMP chapel on Feb. 9 — alleged to be a targeted attack against convicted killer Kenny Green.

Furlong said she can't comment directly on the case, because union members still have to testify at the trial, but the issues she identified at the prison were front and centre the day of the riot.

"You can't have people expected to be on a range or in an area all alone, a correctional officer. And it doesn't matter if there is only one inmate there, you really need to have backup," said Furlong.

Furlong said if someone raises concern, managers need to heed the warnings and concerns of those front line workers who are on duty.

"Management has to be more astute. They're in charge, they're in control of the place, they're the ones who are calling the shots and making the policies and they have to be astute as well. Sometimes it means maybe you shouldn't be putting rival people, rival groups, in one area," she said.

Trust your instincts

"Maybe you've got rivalry groups, rivalry gangs or maybe you know that things are happening, maybe you're hearing things, maybe you're just suspect. On those days you need to bring in measures, such as bringing in extra staff," Furlong said.

It doesn't matter if there is only one inmate there, you really need to have backup.- NAPE President Carol Furlong

The video shows what life is like at HMP; inmates wear their own clothes, rather than a standard prison uniform. This is an issue that was outlined in a 2008 report on the province's prisons.

"You're bringing in contraband through that clothes, through your footwear. You're getting new sneakers, you're getting contraband coming in. Could be drugs, could be weapons," said Furlong.

Since the riot, officers have been given pepper spray to carry with them, but Furlong said no weapon could replace the common sense managers need to start using.

Defence lawyer Nick Avis said the guards were brave during the attack, but management has a lot to answer for. 

Avis added the attack could have been prevented if management had acted on the threats earlier, and he's moving to have officials at HMP acknowledged as criminally negligent.