News Releases

Pacific Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ASSAULTS AT MATSQUI INSTITUTION

ABBOTSFORD, BC, May 25, 2010 - On Tuesday, May 25, 2010, at approximately 13:00 hours, an inmate was found to have been assaulted at Matsqui Institution. The injured inmate was immediately assessed by staff and escorted to the institutional hospital for treatment. A second more serious assault took place in the living unit as the institution was in the process of locking down. The injuries sustained in this case required treatment at outside hospital. Two other recent assaults, the finding of a brew in the living unit are other indicators that were considered in this decision to lock down.

The institution is currently locked down with all inmates secured in the living units. An investigation is being initiated and a search for drugs, brew, weapons and cell phones has been initiated. Regularly scheduled visits to the institution have been suspended for the duration of the lockdown. Scheduled Private Family Visits are continuing.

In order to improve its practices to prevent and reduce future incidents, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) will continue to work in an effort to review the circumstances surrounding the incident and take action where necessary.

Safety and security remains the highest priority in the operations of the federal correctional system.

Matsqui Institution is a medium security facility operated by CSC. It is located in Abbotsford and currently houses 262 male offenders.

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For further information media representatives may contact:

Gordon Tanner
Assistant Warden Management Services
Matsqui Institution, Abbotsford, BC
Correctional Service Canada
Phone 604-850-8205