The Department of Justice is implementing changes to segregation at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre, a spokesperson told the Star Tuesday.

The shift in policy follows a complaint from an inmate who said he was left in a feces-covered cell by corrections officials in 2018. The man’s account was reported last Friday by the Yukon News.

Fiona Azizaj told the Star that the inmate’s complaint reached resolution and changes are being implemented.

Azizaj was not able to provide a timeline for the implementation of the new initiatives, nor clarify whether any of them are already in place.

She provided the following statement to the Star:

“The Department of Justice has taken steps to change the approach to segregation at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre, which includes:

• Putting in place additional oversight and accountability, both inside and outside the institution;

• Ensuring that all segregation placements are reviewed by senior officials;

• Creating an interdisciplinary care team that includes health care professionals, which is in place to review all segregation placements;

• Developing individual care plans for all segregation placements.

Each plan includes the rationale for placement and the work that is underway to reintegrate the individual back into general population.

These care plans are developed and reviewed weekly by an interdisciplinary care team and are intended to reflect the needs of the individual; and;

• Ensuring there is active involvement and monitoring of all cases where an individual is in segregation. Where necessary, direction is provided to ensure the safety and security of all inmates and staff.”

NDP MLA Liz Hanson raised the issue of segregation during Monday’s question period in the legislature.

She expressed concerns that the inmate’s experience is evidence of a large and long-unresolved issue.

“The treatment that this inmate received and the actions of the Whitehorse Correctional Centre management speak to a serious problem,” Hanson said.

“(Officials) knew that (the inmate) was behaving erratically and they knew he had been prescribed a number of medications to treat mental health issues, yet rather than reacting with compassion, they chose to punish him further,” she told the house.

Hanson questioned whether the responsible corrections officials were held accountable and the new initiatives put in place.

The use of segregation has been discussed previously in this sitting, as changes to the Corrections Act promising stricter rules entered their second reading last month.

Hanson accused the changes of lacking in substance.

“The amendments … provide for continued use of segregation, albeit clocked under a range of new names,” Hanson said.

“What real differences will the amended corrections act provide at Whitehorse Correctional Centre?”

Justice Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee was not present in the house Monday to answer Hanson’s questions. Community Services Minister John Streicker spoke in McPhee’s place.

He lauded the importance of increasing independent oversight and the delivery of mental health services in the $70-million-plus jail.

“We are mindful that restrictive confinement and segregation should be used as a measure of last resort,” Streicker said.

“And may, at times, be necessary to maintain the safety of inmates and staff in the Whitehorse Correctional Centre.”