IS IT TIME TO SEIZE WARDENS' PASSPORTS?

The above question is based upon repeated testimony by numerous witnesses at the ongoing Ashley Smith inquest, as reported in the Waterloo Region Record. Today's story is titled "Ashley Smith enjoyed ligatures around neck, inquest hears". This time it is guard Michelle Lombardo who is testifying. The most stunning testimony for me is the alleged "use of force" expert, Ken Allan. Allegedly as an employee of the Correctional Service of Canada he told guards, eight days before Ashley Smith's death, that they were entering her cell too often in response to her ligature tying. He allegedly also stated that the guards' use of force reports were making Grand valley's warden look bad at national headquarters. Last and most horrific "During the same meeting, Allan also told the guards that if Smith died as a result of her ligature tying, it would be deemed "death by misadventure"-in other words, the Grand Valley guards wouldn't be blamed...".

Meanwhile Ashley Smith is confidently tying ligatures around her neck absolutely counting on the guards to save her life, each and every time, while management are essentially telling the guards it's O.K. not to save her. Dear God the only surprise here under these circumstances is that she didn't die sooner, not that she eventually did die.