Prison guards are protesting the firing of eight staff members from the Fraser Regional Correctional Centre and what they say are dangerously low staffing levels in provincial jails in Maple Ridge on Friday morning.

Prior to 2001, the ratio of inmates to staff was capped at 20-1, but is now at approximately 40-1.

B次元官网网址淗ow do you keep track of 40 inmates if you are one person?B次元官网网址� said a staff representative with the B.C. Government and Service EmployeesB次元官网网址� Union.

B次元官网网址淭hat results in safety issues for our members, and also safety issues for inmates,B次元官网网址� he said.

The number of assaults in prisons B次元官网网址� including assaults on guards, has been rising in incidence and severity, he said. The call to lower the ratio has been a long-term campaign for the union, which would mean hiring more officers.

Dean Purdy of BCGEU talks about protest in Maple Ridge

B次元官网网址� NewCorbettjourno (@NeilCorbett18)

The overcrowded Maple Ridge facility was built with a capacity for 300 inmates, but now houses more than 500, the said.

They were also protesting the dismissal of eight corrections officers who were fired after a violent incident at the facility on 256th Street in September of 2017.

B次元官网网址淲e definitely believe that was wrongful dismissal,B次元官网网址� the staff representative said, adding the union is fighting to have the union members re-instated.

Four corrections officers were charged with assault in connection with that incident, and they are to appear in Port Coquitlam provincial court on Feb. 26.

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Six more officers faced discipline by BC Corrections after the same incident.

Dean Purdy, BCGEU vice president, said in a December union notice the incident took place in September in a living unit after B次元官网网址渁n unprovoked, violent attack,B次元官网网址� and that other officers responded and B次元官网网址渟ecured the inmate.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淔our of our own are facing criminal charges after coming to the aid of a fellow correctional officer B次元官网网址�B次元官网网址� he said.

He noted Ridge Meadows RCMP investigated, but made no recommendation at the time about charges for the officers. However, last November, the Crown filed charges.

B次元官网网址淲ithout prejudicing the case, we note that this situation could happen to any one of us working in corrections and sheriff services,B次元官网网址� Purdy said.

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