1975: KITCHENER JAIL CONDITIONS INVESTIGATION
“It all started May 6 1975 [at] Kitchener Jail when we the kitchen staff were serving lunch.”
In spring 1975, OPIRG joined forces with the K-W Human Rights Caucus and Kitchener House to protest the Kitchener Jail facilities.
Ontario Minister of Correctional Services at the time, Harold Potter, accused OPIRG of harassing public officials. Premier Davis suggested that an investigation into newer facilities might be useful, although a new courthouse was about to be built locally.
The OPIRG Jail Report, prepared after extensive interviews with inmates, guards and officials, alongside a study of comparable jail facilities, sparked wide publicity and reaction from the correctional system. Take a peak at testimonial excerpts below.
“The inmates were still asking for water to drink so the [guards] turned the FIRE HOSE ON NUMBER 4 CORRIDOR - 5 CORRIDOR & 7 CORRIDOR
The inmates were yelling and screaming from the pain and pressure of the water… the [guards] kept the hose on them for 15-20 minutes. During that time the roof of our corridor was beginning to fall in because of the amount of water upstairs.”
“The inmates were left in their cells with soaking wet clothes on and freezing cold water all over their cell floors.
(May 7th) These inmates are still locked up in this cell with no tobacco no reading material and only a mattress and a blanket on the floor to sleep on. These inmates would like this episode looked into and action taken or the [guards] are going to keep this up because they think [they’re] getting away with it.
I wish to remain anonymous but if I have to present myself I have half a dozen inmates and one [guard] to prove I wrote the statement above. This is a copy of the original statement.”
“I am truly interested in the work of your group and others regarding the penal system. I would be interested in the dates of your proposed public forums on jail life and stand ready to assist where possible. Like the O.P.I.R.G., I [too] am ready to assist jail officials in finding alternate correctional methods for in my case it’s strictly a case of confinement as opposed to correction.
If there is anything I can do to help, any questions I may be able to answer, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Keep in mind though, that my mail is censored and I’m not allowed to say anything against the institution or ministry in writing.”
