News Releases

Pacific Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AGASSIZ, B.C., January 5, 2004 - A cellblock with 30 inmates at Kent Institution is locked down today as a result of an inmate being assaulted yesterday afternoon.

The 19-year-old inmate was assaulted at around 1 p.m. on January 4. Institutional Health Services staff immediately treated the injured inmate, who was later transferred to an outside hospital for further treatment. The inmate had two stab wounds to his abdominal area and is currently in stable condition.

The RCMP and the institution's Security Intelligence Office are investigating the incident. A search for weapons is being conducted today in the cellblock that is locked down.

No staff or other inmates were injured during this incident.

Remaining cellblocks are operating normally.

Kent Institution is a federal maximum-security institution located 120 kilometers east of Vancouver. The institution currently houses 261 inmates.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

Samantha Cater
A/Assistant Warden Management Services
(604) 796-4404