Home / Crime and Justice / Elder Testifies to Inhumane Jail Conditions
Elder Testifies to Inhumane Jail Conditions
6 Jun
Summary
- Inmates slept on floors and under cots in overcrowded cells.
- Traditional medicines were contrasted with marijuana smoke by staff.
- A handwritten note revealed Mamakwa's despair and thoughts of suicide.
Cindy Crowe, a former Native Inmate Liaison Officer, described the Thunder Bay Jail as "beyond inhumane," citing severe overcrowding where inmates slept on the floor and under cots. She testified to experiencing racism and misogyny from correctional officers who disregarded the smell of traditional medicines while tolerating marijuana smoke.
Crowe's testimony during the inquest into Kevin Mamakwa's 2020 death highlighted the lack of dignity afforded to inmates, many of whom were Indigenous. She noted that despite plans for a new correctional complex, the aging jail's conditions, built a century ago, remain unchanged.
Testimony from Mamakwa's cell mate, Jamie DaCosta, revealed Mamakwa's distress over lack of suboxone and deteriorating mental health. DaCosta recounted a 10 to 20-minute delay in correctional officers responding after he found Mamakwa unresponsive.
A note found in Mamakwa's pocket expressed his despair, addiction struggles, and suicidal thoughts, lamenting that "death only brings slight attention" for minorities. The inquest continues in Thunder Bay.
