PRINCE ALBERT - A 21-year-old Métis inmate who was allegedly abused by guards at Pine Grove Correctional Centre for women in Prince Albert was sentenced Thursday to 665 days in jail. With credit for time served, as of July 21, Joline Jacques has 383 days left to serve at Pine Grove Correctional Centre.
Jacques appeared by CCTV from Saskatchewan Hospital for her sentencing hearing and was sentenced on five counts of assault of a peace officer and one count of impersonating another person.
Indigenous rights advocate Kim Beaudin, vice-chief of Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) was disappointed with the sentence.
"She began her journey at the hands of police as a homeless person with very little support. The police arrest her because of homelessness then due to lack of medication she is charged and placed in jail. She cried out for help and was treated worse."
In December 2021, Pine Grove Correctional Centre inmate 26-year-old Sharise Sutherland spoke out against the alleged abuse of Jacques by guards.
“She has been in segregation [solitary confinement] 41 days and that’s not something they usually do here because there are only a particular number of days allowed,” Sutherland said about Jacques.
At the time of the alleged incidents, Jacques was waiting to be transferred to Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford for mental health treatment.
Previously, Beaudin had called for the guards to be fired.
“Abuse of Indigenous Peoples in Canada’s provincial correctional system must be met with consequence,” said Beaudin.
“Joline, like all inmates, deserves to be treated with dignity, and the correctional officers responsible must be fired. Time and time again, Canada’s provincial correctional centres fail to provide Indigenous peoples with basic human rights and safe custody."
A spokesperson from Saskatchewan Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety said the Ministry wasn't able to comment on specific incidents, but added that the primary concern in any of the province’s correctional facilities is the safety and security of staff, offenders and the facility itself and the ministry reviews the circumstances internally to ensure proper processes and policies are followed.
Two weeks after Sutherland spoke out, Jacques was moved from Pine Grove Correctional Centre to Saskatchewan Hospital for mental health treatment.
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