Image: M. Vanden Bosch / PML / It's been a busy week at Kent Institution, the maximum-security prison west of Agassiz, where nine inmates tested positive for COVID-19, and an assault happened this past Tuesday (Aug. 9).

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Kent Institution

Nine COVID-19 cases, assault mark busy week at Kent Institution

Aug 14, 2022 | 11:00 AM

AGASSIZ — It’s been an eventful week at Kent Institution, a maximum-security prison west of Agassiz.

First, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) reported Friday (Aug. 12) morning that nine inmates at Kent have tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement from the federal agency. CSC stresses that the health and safety of prison employees, inmates, and the public remain its highest priority.

Measures are in place to minimize the spread of the virus within the federal prison. As a result, COVID-19 testing is being offered to inmates and staff. The number of inmate active cases currently reported at the institution are based on rapid tests or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. To date, no inmate has died from COVID-19 at Kent. All 103 inmates that have tested positive for COVID-19 at Kent have all recovered.

CSC says it has been vaccinating inmates since January 2021. All offenders, including new admissions to CSC, are being offered the vaccination at all institutions. Boosters are also being offered as part of the ongoing vaccination process.

Also Friday morning, CSC advised that an inmate was assaulted on Tuesday (Aug. 9). The injured prisoner was evaluated by staff members and transported to an outside hospital to receive treatment.

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The assaults are emblematic of a lively year at the maximum-security prison. Back in July, two inmates were assaulted on July 13. Previous to that, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) announced on June 9 that an inmate was injured after an assault occurred on June 6. Staff responded quickly to resolve the physical altercation.

On May 3, another inmate was assaulted and transported to hospital to receive medical treatment. Prior to that, the Upper Fraser Valley RCMP detachment investigated two stabbings that occurred at Kent, one in April and another in February.

During the attack on April 27, a prisoner was stabbed a reported 40 times by other inmates and taken from Kent by air ambulance. A similar incident occurred on February 5 in which a prisoner was stabbed by another inmate several times and transported by air ambulance to hospital.