News Releases

Quebec Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PORT-CARTIER, QC, February 27, 2008 - At about 11:30 p.m. on February, 26, 2008, 13 inmates at Port-Cartier Institution, a federal maximum-security penitentiary, refused to return to their cells following the evening's activity period. The incident took place after contraband tobacco was seized from an inmate a short time earlier.

It was necessary to use irritant agents and deploy the emergency response team to end the disturbance. All inmates returned to their cells. Physical damage was noted in the range where the incident occurred.

No staff members or inmates were injured, and public safety was not jeopardized at any point during the incident.

Some activities within the Institution have been temporarily suspended, as the Warden ordered that those inmates who took part in the incident be detained in their cells while the situation is assessed.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

Joel Martin
Media Relations Officer
Port-Cartier Institution
418-766-7070, ext. 2712