COULD THE INMATES HAVE RUN GRAND VALLEY INSTITUTION IN A WORSE FASHION?

Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys this story "Long-delayed inquest "best memorial" to teen". Was it the ductape, the facehood or the forced drug injections which were the most gruesome and grotesque? Many things since the day over five years ago when prison guards, under orders, stood by and watched a teenager slowly choke to death have been repugnant in this case. Since Ashley Smith's death and despite the best efforts of Corrections Canada and our federal government; even more has been revealed about the barbaric, inhumane and just plain stupid treatment of Ashley Smith.

Today's Record clarifys for me the absolute, unaccountable and perverse authority system within our prisons. This was a nineteen year old girl with a history of mental health and psychological problems they were dealing with. Here is how those idiots in charge handled her: "By the time she died, a 45-day sentence had grown to a staggering total of 2,239 days-more than six years.". This is the system of institutional charges. Yes they included spitting at guards but they also included refusing to return a hair brush. Seriously! A fourty-five day sentence by a court and she ended up with a six year plus sentence, much of it spent in solitary confinement. Is it any wonder she was self harming. Is it any wonder she was uncooperative? Is it any wonder she was unreasonable at times? What kind of a country permits these abuses of citizens, especially citizens in distress. The whole world is watching and heads had better roll including criminal charges and not just charges at the bottom of the pole.