Thunder Bay Jail Must Close

A coroner’s jury has ruled the death of Kevin Mamakwa, who died in Thunder Bay Jail in 2020, a suicide — and dropped 22 urgent recommendations aimed squarely at the Ministry of the Solicitor General. The jury’s findings call for the immediate closure of the century-old jail, which First Nations leaders have long called a “death trap,” and demand sweeping reforms: 24/7 nursing care, five hours of daily outdoor time for inmates, and mandatory trauma and substance use training for staff. While the province plans to open a new correctional facility next year, the current plan keeps the old jail operational for at least five years — a move the family’s lawyer calls unacceptable. The jury now urges the ministry to release a concrete decommissioning plan within five years of the new facility’s launch — a critical step toward ending the era of this decaying, dangerous institution. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/3118c32e1c6c6baa