Before the first inmates move in, guards at new Remand Centre concerned over safety

A guard, who will work at Edmonton’s new Remand Centre, spoke exclusively to CTV News over fears he, and some of his coworkers, have on safety in their new workplace.

The new ‘superjail’ was modeled after other institutions in North America, and the nearly 60,000 square metre facility was designed with a direct-supervision approach.

That approach means inmates and guards are stationed inside the living units with an open concept, the province said studies show the design works.

“It actually has shown to reduce incidents in the system, so I do think that this is the best way to go,” Solicitor General Jonathan Denis said.

However, one guard, whose identity is being concealed, isn’t sure the concept will work.

“None of us believe it’s proven at all, because it’s the same inmates that are causing all the trouble,” The guard said in a phone interview with CTV News. “[They’re] just moving to a new centre.”

The guard has seen it all – inmate stabbings, beatings, and inmates attacking other guards – he’s worried about the added risks he could face in the new facility, when there are two guards on duty, supervising 72 inmates, with only a desk between them.

“It’s easy for them to throw urine at us, feces, spit on us, whatever they want.”

The added features in each living unit are also cause for concern – he said the extra phones, and juice machines can easily be used as weapons.

In addition, he said not every guard is equipped with proper protective gear.

“They just send us out there completely unsafe, they don’t try and be proactive, they wait until a bad situation actually happens.”

Officials with Corrections Canada said each guard on duty will have a radio, equipped with an emergency button linked to pod control – and a trained response team.

“Our average response time here that we have practiced through is about 25 seconds, so if something is happening, they have a response and people to assist in a very short period of time,” Program manager Melody Aotyk said.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, who represents corrections staff, has heard similar complaints from other guards.

“They will be raising concerns on an ongoing basis, and my hope is that the government will be listening to those concerns, with the validity that it deserves,” AUPE President Guy Smith said.

The facility will be tested starting early next month; the first inmates will begin arriving on April 6.

With files from Amanda Anderson