Correctional Service of Canada: Inmate Death and Lockdown at Edmonton Institution

EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Aug. 17, 2011) - At approximately 7:00 p.m. on August 16^th, 2011, Edmonton Institution was placed on complete lockdown following the suspicious death of an inmate. Correctional Officers had earlier responded to a fight between two inmates. Shortly after Correctional Officers gained control of the situation, the victim went into medical distress. CPR was administered immediately, however the victim, a 21-year-old inmate, was later declared deceased. The name of the victim will not be released until next of kin have been notified.

The Edmonton City Police were called and remain on site for investigative purposes.

The lockdown will remain in place until institutional management determines it is safe to resume normal operations. All inmate visits have been cancelled until further notice.

As in all cases where an individual dies in custody, the coroner's office has been notified. The Correctional Service of Canada will also conduct a review of the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Edmonton Institution is a maximum security federal penitentiary currently accommodating 277 inmates.