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Purtill Sheds Light on EMDC Overcrowding

Thursday, 20 September 2012 at 11:24

During her sentencing hearing on Wednesday, Bonita Purtill gave the court some insight into the conditions right now at the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre. Purtill was being held in the women's "Special Needs Unit" - for fear of mistreatment or abuse by other inmates. The SNU is a large cell with four beds, but Purtill told the court there are often 6-8 women in the Unit, and that "the younger, tougher girls get the beds, and the old girls sleep on the floor". Although Purtill did say she was provided with a 1 1/2 inch piece of foam to sleep on with blankets, but no pillow. She also complained that meals in the Unit are often handled by other inmates, that she claims carry diseases. Purtill says the stronger inmates often steal the desserts off of the food trays to keep for themselves. She also told the court they spend most of their time on lockdown, and are limited to just a couple of outdoor exercise periods a week. She also says her mail and visitations were being blocked. Purtill was also assaulted by another inmate, leaving a gash above her eye. EMDC Deputy Superintendent Thomas Dykstra also took the stand and says there have been "challenges" at the facility this summer. He also spoke of "labour unrest" at the facility amongst the jail guards. Originally built for 150 inmates, they're currently holding around 400. But when it came to questions about Purtill, Dykstra spoke mostly in generalities, and was evasive. Dykstra also didn't bring case-specific reports to court.

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