News Releases

Pacific Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCKDOWN AT KENT INSTITUTION

AGASSIZ, BC, September 27, 2008 - On Friday September 26, 2008, Kent Institution was locked down as a result of an inmate disturbance.

Early Friday morning, inmates in H Block refused to return to their cells from the exercise yard in protest of the Enhanced Structure Program followed in their block. Negotiators were called in and talks continued until approximately 4 a.m., at which time the inmates became compliant and were returned to their cells without incident.

In support of the inmates in H Block, inmates in B and D Blocks began protesting and damaging their cells. The ERT was called in to complete a cell check and inmate count in both blocks, and will remain on site until further notice.

No staff or inmates were injured during the incident.

The institution is locked down and will reopen once institutional management determines that it is safe to do so.

Kent Institution is a federal maximum-security institution located 120 kilometers east of Vancouver. The institution currently houses 247 inmates.

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For further information media representatives may contact:

Whitney Mullin
Media Liaison, Kent Institution
604-796-4406
604-819-3962