News Releases

Prairies Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INMATE DEATH AND LOCKDOWN AT BOWDEN INSTITUTION

Innisfail, Alberta, June 19th, 2011 – At approximately 1100 hours on June 19th, 2011, Bowden Institution was placed on a general lockdown following the suspicious death of an inmate. Correctional Officers responded to a medical emergency just outside one of the Living Units. The inmate was discovered in medical distress. Correctional Officers and Nursing Staff administered First Aid.  The inmate was transported to outside hospital, where he was later declared deceased. The name of the inmate will not be released until next of kin are notified.

Bowden Institution remains on lockdown until institutional management determine it is safe to resume normal operations. All visits for inmates have been cancelled until further notice.

As in all cases where an individual dies in custody, the police and the coroner are called in to investigate. The Correctional Service of Canada will also conduct a review of the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Bowden Institution is a medium security federal penitentiary currently accommodating 557 inmates.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES MAY CONTACT:

Rita Wehrle
Bowden Institution
Correctional Service of Canada
(403) 227-7346 (office)
(403) 391-9033 (cell)