Correctional officers at an Ontario jail are being accused of carrying out a brutal act of collective punishment against dozens of inmates in an incident that is now impacting court cases across the province.
Two days after a guard was assaulted by an inmate on Dec. 20, jail guards in full riot gear allegedly stormed multiple sections of Milton’s Maplehurst Correctional Complex, beating and pepper-spraying inmates who were not involved in the assault.
In a co-ordinated operation that spanned two days, guards allegedly went cell-to-cell on the unit where the assault occurred, strip-searching every inmate and zip-tying their hands.
Alison Craig, lawyer for three of the inmates, emphasized the need for serious legal repercussions to address the mistreatment of inmates by correctional officers.
Incident inside jail now being investigated
The Ministry of the Solicitor General is now investigating the incident, but details remain undisclosed due to ongoing court cases.
Maplehurst, known for overcrowding and violence, has been under scrutiny for the treatment of inmates.
More information is expected to come to light as affected inmates’ cases progress through the legal system.
Jailhouse incident has been cloaked in secrecy
Security camera footage reviewed by a judge has shed light on the alleged mistreatment of inmates at Maplehurst but remains a subject of controversy.
Efforts to access and disclose video evidence have been met with resistance, raising questions about transparency in the justice system.