1 day Ago By By Michele McDougall
The violent deaths of two inmates at Brandon Correctional Centre has caught the attention of the John Howard Society. Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support.
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Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! The violent deaths of two inmates at Brandon Correctional Centre has caught the attention of the John Howard Society. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? The violent deaths of two inmates at Brandon Correctional Centre has caught the attention of the John Howard Society. “I was very upset to hear that this had happened,” said Chris Schneider, who has been a member of the not-for-profit’s board for the past decade.
“BCC and the John Howard Society have worked very closely for many years — we have a very good working relationship — and so (we need) to have conversations about how did this happen? What were the circumstances that led to this happening? What sort of policies or decisions might we implement or discuss to set up the parameters to where this could not happen again in the future?” Schneider said. The Brandon Correctional Centre along Veterans Way in Brandon. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun files) A 27-year-old Brandon man is accused and co-accused in the killing of two fellow inmates at BCC in two separate beatings that happened in 2024.
Jarrod Lloyd Paul faces two charges — first-degree and second-degree murder — in connection with the killings. Paul’s charge of first-degree murder was laid on March 25, about three months after his cellmate died from being repeatedly punched and kicked. Paul was charged with second-degree murder on Dec.
7, 2024, in the beating death of a 44-year-old inmate last September. Two other inmates were also charged — one with manslaughter, the other with second-degree murder. One of the goals of the John Howard Society, said Schneider, is the reduction of harm and to increase community safety while speaking on behalf of some of the most marginalized people in society — those who have been convicted of crimes and are incarcerated.
Schneider said he knows that some people may dismiss the importance of acknowledging the victims or other inmates “because they’re criminals.” “To dismiss a person’s whole being and a person’s whole character because of a life decision does none of us any good. And so, I would dismiss outright any sort of suggestions that these people are not deserving of (fair) treatment and respect,” Schneider said.
“We can’t undo what’s been done, but we can come up with better ways and solutions to try and ensure that nothing like this happens again,” he said. The correctional officers who work at BCC are members of one of the largest unions in the province, the Manitoba Government Employees Union. About 75 per cent of them are in the Correctional Officer I category and make between $31.
62 and $40.65 per hour, according to an MGEU spokesperson. There are about 150 correctional officers at BCC, said MGEU president Kyle Ross, but that’s not enough, he added.
“When we talk with members, they say we need more people. It’s low staffing challenges on top of the overcrowding with the individuals that are being housed in the facility. It makes for a tough situation,” said Ross.
“There are only so many spaces where you can separate inmates who are having issues with each other, and it makes it really challenging for our workers, especially when there’s not enough of them to create a safe environment. “And when the environment’s not safe for the inmates, it’s not safe for the workers.” More effort needs to be put into recruitment “all across the province,” in an industry that typically has a high turnover, he said.
“Once they get some experience, they move on to law enforcement, or the federal system, or others leave because it’s not the job for them. “So, it’s a challenge to get people to come in, and then once they’re there, it’s just as hard to keep them,” he said. The NDP government takes the safety of inmates and staff at the province’s correctional facilities seriously, said Justice Minister Matt Wiebe, who added the safety of all Manitobans is a priority.
“We’ve made great progress in staffing up our correctional officer and juvenile counsellor positions, having trained and hired over 150 recruits last year,” Wiebe wrote in an email to the Sun. “We’ll continue to invest in and prioritize the safety of Manitobans and work hard to keep everyone safe.” Brian McVicar, who was superintendent of BCC for 25 years and is now retired, said he’s never seen so many deaths in prisons across Canada as in recent years.
“It’s a lot more difficult to operate today than it ever has (been), and it’s not just for staff,” said the Brandon resident. “It’s difficult for inmates and anybody who has anybody in the system. “The root cause of dysfunctional people is drugs, but the root cause for making it difficult is police and prosecution have a near-impossible job under the current Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” McVicar said.
“Let’s look at some ways and get some ideas on how to do better.” » [email protected] » enviromichele.
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