A criminal defense lawyer shares the COVID-19 precautions ignored for some OCDC inmates.
As criminal defense lawyer Gary Chayko sat in a courtroom at the Cornwall Courthouse waiting for this client to arrive from the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre (OCDC) for a preliminary hearing, he took stock of the pandemic precautions around him.
Guards and court officials wore masks, and Plexiglass walls separated the room into compartments. It was when he saw his client being led into the room with nothing covering his face.
He became more concerned about it when he learned of a COVID-19 outbreak at OCDC earlier this week.
Masks required in court
According to a spokesperson for Ontario’s Ministry of the Solicitor General, all inmates are provided a mask before the court and are required to wear it during transport and at court.
OCDC has the necessary supplies of personal protective equipment for staff and inmates but inmates are not required to wear masks at all times.
According to the ministry, only new inmates are provided with masks and “are required to wear at all times outside of their living area”. After a 14-day quarantine, new inmates are released into the general population and are no longer required to wear a mask unless they leave the facility – to attend court.
Staff and visitors to OCDC must wear masks and undergo temperature checks.
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