The Brockville jail closed Tuesday due to a COVID-19 outbreak, with all inmates being transferred to another jail in Lindsay, Ont., according to a memo from the jail’s superintendent sent out Monday afternoon.
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“We should be very worried. Like there could not only be court shutdowns and further delays, but these are actual people in Dickensian horrible conditions,” said Ottawa defence lawyer Michael Spratt. “We should not only be worried about the consequences to the justice system but about treating people in a humane way.”
Spratt says that the sense of urgency has long dissipated in the justice system. “We’re actually increasing the jail population instead of decreasing it. It is a perfect storm right now that could get even worse,” he said.
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