News Releases

Pacific Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCKDOWN – KENT INSTITUTION

Agassiz, BC, March 27, 2011 - Kent Institution is locked down following an inmate assault.

At approximately 8:30 PM last evening, an inmate was discovered in the weight training area with serious stab wounds. Additional staff members were immediately alerted and arrived at the scene and secured the area. First Aid was administered and the victim was moved to the Health Care area for treatment and assessment. Due to the severity of the injuries, ambulance services were called and the victim was rushed to a local hospital.

The victim underwent surgery and is now recovering in hospital. No staff or other inmates were injured during this incident.

A weapon was retrieved from the scene. Three assailants have been identified and have been placed in Kent Segregation Unit. The RCMP and the institution's Security Intelligence Office are investigating the incident.

The facility will reopen once institutional management determines that it is safe to do so. Regularly scheduled visits will not take place until the searching has concluded.

Kent Institution is a federal maximum security institution located 120 kilometers east of Vancouver. The institution currently houses 245 inmates.

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For further information, please contact:

Gord Mattson
Assistant Warden Management Services
Kent Institution, Agassiz, BC
Correctional Service of Canada
(604) 796-4404