Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre Explained

Prison Name:Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre
Location:London, Ontario, Canada
Status:Operational
Classification:Maximum
Capacity:353
Opened:1977
Managed By:Ministry of the Solicitor General

The Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre (EMDC) is a maximum security provincial jail located on the outskirts of London, Ontario.[1] [2] Opened in 1977, the facility is operated by the province of Ontario, serving the region of Southwestern Ontario.

The prison, known regionally for its harsh conditions and numerous deaths in custody, is often described as "overcrowded, unsanitary and dangerous".[3] Although EMDC currently has capacity to house a maximum of 353 inmates, the facility routinely operates beyond this limit.[4] [5] Approximately 70% of EMDC prisoners are awaiting trial and presumptively innocent.[6]

EMDC's 22,000 square foot Regional Intermittent Centre (RIC) was opened in 2016 to allow inmates serving intermittent sentences to be held separately from the general prison population.[7] Despite shuttering the RIC Centre in 2021, the Ford government later announced its intention to reopen the facility by 2026 in order to address overcrowding.[8]

Prison conditions and deaths

EMDC has frequently made local and regional headlines due to persistent concerns about the security of the inmates at the prison[9] as well as prison overcrowding.[10] [11] [12] The prison has been nicknamed "the devil's playground".[13] [14] At least 23 individuals have died while incarcerated at EMDC between 2009 and 2024:

  1. Randy Drysdale (April 25, 2009)[15] [16]
  2. Laura Straughan (November 13, 2009)[17]
  3. Adam Kargus (October 31, 2013)[18]
  4. Keith Patterson (September 29, 2014)[19]
  5. Jamie High (December 23, 2014)[20]
  6. Floyd Deleary (August 23, 2015)[21]
  7. Justin Thompson (October 31, 2016)[22]
  8. Raymond George Major (June 6, 2017)[23]
  9. Michael Fall (July 30, 2017)[24]
  10. Murray Davis (August 17, 2017)[25]
  11. Ronald Jenkins (December 9, 2017)[26]
  12. Justin Struthers (December 26, 2017)[27]
  13. James Pigeau (January 7, 2018)[28]
  14. Sean William Tourand-Brightman (March 31, 2019)[29]
  15. Chase Blanchard (June 22, 2019)[30]
  16. Malcolm Ripley (November 25, 2020)[31]
  17. Tyler Lancha (March 21, 2021)[32] [33]
  18. Clayton (Danny) Bissonnette (March 24, 2021)[34]
  19. Brandon Marchant (July 6, 2021)[35]
  20. Ronald Jack (September 13, 2022)[36]
  21. Jamie Briggs (November 16, 2022)[37]
  22. Bryan Michael Myers (February 16, 2024)[38]
  23. Matthew Bouvier (October 24, 2024)[39] [40]

Inmates' deaths have ranged from natural causes (e.g. pneumonia) to suicide, homicide, and drug overdose. In 2018, a consolidated class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of 10,000 inmates against the Government of Ontario, alleging that the dangerous conditions at EMDC amounted to systemic negligence and violated inmates' Charter rights.[41] The lawsuit initially sought $325 million in damages, but was settled for $32.7 million in September 2023.[42]

In 2018, family and friends of prisoners who died in EMDC custody began erecting memorial crosses on property opposite the facility’s main entrance.[43] Prison staff repeatedly complained that this “constant reminder of traumatic and tragic circumstances” negatively impacted their mental health and created an unsafe work environment.[44] [45] In 2021, the union representing EMDC staff successfully sought an order from the Ontario Grievance Settlement Board to have the memorial removed on the basis that the crosses posed “an unacceptable risk to the psychological health and safety of staff members at the facility.”[46] Then-Solicitor General Sylvia Jones confirmed that the memorial had been dismantled shortly thereafter.[47]

In early 2020, the jury in an inquest into two deaths at EMDC in 2015 and 2016 (Floyd Deleary and Justin Thompson) recommended the complete replacement of EMDC with another facility.[48]

On May 14, 2024, the province announced an inquest into the deaths of eight men at EMDC (Clayton Bissonette, Chase Blanchard, Ronald Jenkins, Raymond George Major, James Pigeau, Malcolm Ripley, Justin Struthers, and Sean William Tourand-Brightman) between 2017 and 2021.[49] Days before its scheduled start date in October 2024, the Ministry of the Solicitor General applied to have the scope of the inquest narrowed.[50] The proceedings were subsequently postponed with no specified return date.[51]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/corr_serv/adult_off/facilities/det_centres/det_centres.html Adult Facilities
  2. Web site: Information London.
  3. Web site: Human Rights Commissioner slams EMDC as 'overcrowded, unsanitary and dangerous'. May 21, 2019. CBC News.
  4. Web site: Inquests to be held into deaths of 8 inmates at London, Ont., jail from 2017-2021'. Donnini. Alessio. May 14, 2024. CBC News.
  5. Web site: Ontario jails, including Windsor's, operated over capacity last year. Casey. Liam. March 7, 2024. The Canadian Press.
  6. Web site: Ontario's little-noticed plan to privatize, expand GPS monitoring of inmates. Richmond. Randy. October 4, 2021. The London Free Press.
  7. Web site: Elgin Middlesex Regional Intermittent Centre. September 13, 2016. Ontario.ca.
  8. Web site: 2024-06-10 . London's intermittent detention centre reopening . 2024-09-23 . cknxnewstoday.ca . en.
  9. https://london.ctvnews.ca/emdc-one-of-most-dangerous-facilities-for-staff-1.1215639 EMDC one of the Most Dangerous facilities for staff
  10. https://london.ctvnews.ca/overcrowding-causing-problems-at-emdc-1.1299109 Overcrowding causing problems at EMDC
  11. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/nearly-half-of-ontario-s-jails-are-overcrowded-1.1358212 Nearly half of Ontario's jails are overcrowded
  12. https://web.archive.org/web/20171202002858/https://www.stthomastimesjournal.com/2012/09/02/judge-reduces-sentences-because-elgin-middlesex-detention-centre-overcrowded Judge reduces sentences because Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre overcrowded
  13. Web site: Zabian . Selena . 2018-12-07 . 'The devil's playground': Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre . 2024-09-23 . The Gazette • Western University's Student Newspaper . en.
  14. Web site: The Devil's Playground: A Case Study of Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre (EMDC) Demonstrating the System Failings of the Ontario Corrections Regime. Kelly. Nicole. 2021. Manitoba Law Journal.
  15. Web site: Overcrowding, understaffing and 'culture of violence' rampant at notorious Ontario jail: lawyer. December 1, 2017. CBC News.
  16. Web site: Richmond. Randy. 2019-04-02. Death of inmate Sunday at EMDC is 14th since 2009. live. 2021-07-23. The London Free Press. en-CA. https://web.archive.org/web/20190401180243/https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/death-of-inmate-sunday-at-emdc-is-14th-since-2009 . 2019-04-01 .
  17. Web site: Richmond . Randy . Watchdog report on London inmate death all too familiar for one family . The London Free Press . Postmedia . 16 January 2021.
  18. Web site: Butler . Colin . Crown claims deadly prisoner beating was so loud it could be heard on jail's lower floor . CBC News . CBC/Radio-Canada . 12 January 2021.
  19. Web site: Day one of inquest into hanging death of EMDC inmate . CTV News . 2 November 2015 . BellMedia . 16 January 2021.
  20. Web site: Richmond . Randy . Jamie High: St. Thomas realtor who died in custody at London?s provincial jail was focus of Free Press investigative series Indiscernible Author of the article . The London Free Press . Postmedia . 16 January 2021.
  21. Web site: XFM News staff . Heartbreak as families look for answers into EMDC deaths . XFM News . SoCast . 16 January 2021.
  22. Web site: Lale . Brent . Inquest to begin Monday into three EMDC deaths . CTV News . 23 February 2020 . BellMedia . 16 January 2021.
  23. Web site: Postmedia News . Another inmate has died at troubled jail in London, Ontario: 'There is something wrong with that place' . National Post . Postmedia . 16 January 2021.
  24. Web site: Ennett . Gary . Inquest into 2017 death of EMDC inmate Michael Fall starts today . CBC News . CBC Radio Canada . 16 January 2021.
  25. Web site: At EMDC inquest, a parent hopes for some accountability . CBC News . CBC Radio Canada . 16 January 2021.
  26. Web site: Richmond . Randy . Inmate dies of suicide after one day in EMDC . The London Free Press . Postmedia . 16 January 2021.
  27. Web site: Rumelski . Kathy . Families hope for answers about deaths of loved ones inside jail . CTV News . 27 February 2019 . BellMedia . 16 January 2021.
  28. Web site: Richmond . Randy . Coroner documents raise new questions about two deaths at London jail . The London Free Press . Postmedia . 16 January 2021.
  29. Web site: Richmond. Randy. 2 April 2019. Death of inmate Sunday at EMDC is 14th since 2009. live. 2021-07-23. The London Free Press. en-CA. https://web.archive.org/web/20190401180243/https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/death-of-inmate-sunday-at-emdc-is-14th-since-2009 . 2019-04-01 .
  30. Web site: London inmate's death occurred one day after bail denied: Sources.
  31. Web site: Richmond . Randy . London man, 41, dies at Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre . The Londoner . Postmedia . 12 January 2021.
  32. Web site: Paparella . Nick . Two deaths this week at EMDC renew calls for change . CTV News . 24 March 2021 . BellMedia . 1 April 2021.
  33. Web site: Trial begins in the murder of inmate at troubled Ontario jail. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170926175755/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/adam-kargus-inmate-murder-1.4304268 . 2017-09-26 .
  34. Web site: Trevithick. Matthew. 24 March 2021. Second inmate death in three days reported at EMDC, ministry confirms. live. 2021-07-23. Global News. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210325012116/https://globalnews.ca/news/7717613/second-inmate-death-two-days-emdc-ministry/ . 2021-03-25 .
  35. Web site: Richmond. Randy. Carruthers. Dale. 2021-07-17. Grief, rage, roaring motorcycles as inmate death draws huge jail protest. live. 2021-07-23. The London Free Press. en-CA. https://web.archive.org/web/20210717223009/https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/grief-rage-roaring-motorcycles-as-inmate-death-draws-huge-jail-protest . 2021-07-17 .
  36. Web site: Ontario to pay ex-inmates $33M for harms suffered at London jail.
  37. Web site: 'He suffered and died alone': Partner seeks answers in jail inmate's death . 2022-11-20 . lfpress . en-CA.
  38. Web site: Carruthers . Dale . February 27, 2024 . Inmate who died in jail had waited more than six months for bail hearing . London Free Press.
  39. Web site: EMDC death being investigated by London police. Varley. Kristylee. October 25, 2024. CTV News London.
  40. Web site: Friends speak out after death of man found unresponsive in London jail. Bieman. Jennifer. October 28, 2024. The London Free Press.
  41. Web site: Paparella . Nick . Two deaths this week at EMDC renew calls for change . CTV News . 24 March 2021 . BellMedia . 1 April 2021.
  42. Web site: Welcome . 2024-09-23 . www.emdcclassaction.ca.
  43. Web site: Memorial crosses outside EMDC removed following grievance board ruling. July 13, 2021. Global News.
  44. Web site: Inmate memorial crosses triggering for EMDC staff. Richmond. Randy. July 31, 2018. The London Free Press.
  45. Web site: Memorial crosses outside EMDC removed following grievance board ruling. July 13, 2021. Global News.
  46. Web site: Ontario Public Service Employees Union v Ontario (Solicitor General). May 3, 2021.
  47. Web site: Memorial crosses outside EMDC removed following grievance board ruling. July 13, 2021. Global News.
  48. Web site: Yu . Alvin . March 17, 2020 . London jail should be replaced, jury recommends . CBC News London.
  49. Web site: Hyshka . Ashley . May 15, 2024 . Province announces inquests into 8 EMDC deaths . CTV News London.
  50. Web site: Amid latest London jail death, inquest into seven previous fatalities sputters. Richmond. Randy. October 26, 2024. The London Free Press.
  51. Web site: Amid latest London jail death, inquest into seven previous fatalities sputters. Richmond. Randy. October 26, 2024. The London Free Press.

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