News Releases

Prairies Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRINCE ALBERT, SK, March 17, 2004 - At approximately 6:50 a.m. this morning, an inmate informed staff that another inmate on the unit was not responding to calls. Staff immediately went to the cell. They found the inmate lying on his bed, non-responsive with no pulse and not breathing. RCMP and the Coroner were notified. The Coroner pronounced the inmate dead at the scene at 8:30 a.m. The inmate was housed on one of the medium-security cellblocks of the institution.

The coroner and RCMP are both investigating. No foul play is suspected at this time. The inmate had a history of medical problems.

The deceased inmate is Steve Peter Hanson, 67 years old. He was serving a two year and eight month sentence for two counts of indecent assault against a female and one count of rape. The sentence commenced on January 7, 2004 and was due to expire on September 6, 2006.

Next of kin have been notified.

The death will be the focus of a thorough internal investigation by the Correctional Service of Canada.

Saskatchewan Penitentiary is a federal multi-level institution that houses both medium- and maximum-security offenders (in separate units). There currently are 457 inmates in the medium-security portion of the institution.

- 30 -

For more information, media representatives may contact:

Trent Mitchell
Parole Officer
(306) 765-8059