Collins Bay Institution on lockdown following second inmate assault in a week

A lockdown has been put in place to allow for a search at Collins Bay Institution following the assault of an inmate at the correctional facility.

According to the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), the lockdown was put in place in the medium-security unit of the Institution at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020 to allow staff to conduct a search. This came after an inmate was assaulted.

“The injured inmate was evaluated by staff members and transported to an outside hospital to receive treatment,” CSC said in a press release on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020. “The inmate has since returned to the institution. No staff members or other inmates were injured during this incident.”

The Ontario Provincial Police-led Joint Forces Penitentiary Squad and the institution are currently investigating the incident. The search was ordered in the medium-security unit to ensure the safety and security of the institution, its staff, and inmates. Visits at Collins Bay Institution have been suspended until the search is completed. Normal operations will resume as soon as it is considered safe to do so.

“In order to improve practices aimed at preventing this type of incident, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) will continue to review the circumstances surrounding this incident and take the appropriate measures,” CSC said.

This comes just days after an inmate from the medium-security unit was sent to hospital after an assault at Collins Bay Institution.

“I can confirm there is an ongoing investigation into the situation. Because of this, we cannot release any further information at this time,” said Lynn Dufresne, Acting Assistant Warden of Management Services for Collins Bay Institution, when asked whether or not the assaults were related, and whether or not a weapon was involved with this assault.