Formerly friendly gangs now feuding and it's spilling into jails: Sask. govt

There has been a violent shift in the relationship between two gangs and it's spilling into Saskatchewan's jailsystem, according to the provincial government.

The Saskatoon Correctional Centre was sent intolockdown this weekafter fights between the Indian Posse and the Westside Outlaws.The two gangs have historically gotten along well, according toDrew Wilby, spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice.

"Sometimes, you can't quite stay ahead but when you do get that information, you try to intervene as quickly as possible as the staff at Saskatoon did in this case," Wilby saidof the shifting gang allegiances.

The gangs brawled in the jail yard and in one of the facility's indoor units, Wilby said. Also, another inmate was stabbed last week and remains in hospital.

Wilby said the government doesn't believe the stabbing and the fights are connected but said police are still investigating.

The gangs have since been isolated from one another. No employees were injured.

Wilbysaid late Friday the lockdown had beenlifted. Earlier in the day he said lifting it would happen after a search, staff clearing the facilities and relocation of some inmates. Lockdownsvary by jailbut the general rule is that prisoners are confined to their cells.

"They can be a necessary tool but certainly something we try to avoid because at the end they punish everyone," said Shawn Fraser,chief executive of the John Howard Society.

Fraser said a lockdown not only creates anxiety for the thousands of inmates and guards, but also for their families.

"They don't know what dangers their people are going through," Fraser said.

Taking toll on staff

The recent jail violence has also taken a toll on the workers in the jail. The union representing them, the Sask. Government and General Employees Union (SGEU), is calling for the provinceto hire more staff.

Union president Bob Bymoen said staff talk with him on a regular basis and "the story is the same all of the time."

"[Corrections employees are]not feeling feeling valued. They're feeling they're being put at risk and they're feeling that when something goes wrong, they're the ones all the fingers get pointed to," Bymoen said on Friday.

He said staff turnover is high, meaning correctional facilities are always hiring.

Bymoen said gangs are increasingly more sophisticated in their operations, which also poses a problem when someone comes in from the street with a target in mind. Often, other inmates and employees are caught in the crossfire, Bymoen said.

Wilby said the government is regularly in contact with the SGEU and corrections staff to address concerns.

There are more than 400 inmates in custody in Saskatoon but "about 40 per cent" of them are on the move after the lockdown, Wilby said. The government has had to call in extra staff as a result.

"It's a significant piece of work that our staff are doing butagain, they're well-equipped to do it and I want to thank them for it," Wilby said.

Wilby said the incidents appear isolated to Saskatoon but the other provincial jails areprepared for potential problems.