Canadian Military Prison

[CDNBlackhawk]

I heard a few soldiers down in toronto at CFRC talking about Our Military prison, I was going to ask them a few questions but i our lunch break was almost up and didn't have the time.

Maybe some of you could answer some questions.

They were saying that prisoners their only get fed bread and water, also heard them say to another young recruit that it is one of the most brutal prisons in North America (not sure what they meant by that)

Also where is our Prison located and does it have a name?


thanks

 

[Brad Sallows]

Detention Barracks in Edmonton?  (Is it still there?  It's been years since I heard a story/lecture about DB.)

It's not brutal.  It's merely austere and the prisoners' time is structured and they are kept active.

"Bread and water" (aka "Punishment Diet No 1" if I was correctly informed) was never standard fare.  I have no idea whether it may still be used.  (Supplements, eg. vitamins, and medical monitoring are/were included.)

 

[George Wallace]

There is only one DB (Detention Barracks) left in Canada.  Previously there were one in Gagetown and one in Valcartier.

"Bread and Water" is an extreme punishment used only in extreme conditions.  Discipline is very strict in all accounts and it is not really a place you would like to be sentenced.  One would have to be sentenced to over 14 days Detention to be sent to the DB in EDMONTON.

It is not the worst of Military Prisons....Levenworth is probably a lot worse.  A Turkish prison would be even worse.

GW

 

[Coyote43D]

They built a new, smaller Club Ed. When we did a tour of the old DB on my QL3 they showed us a cell they called the pink room. If you were sent to the pink room you were on bread and water.

 

[dutchie]

DB in Edmonton might seem really harsh to someone used to the posh digs our civie prisoners get. My impression (although I have thankfully not spent a minute in DB) is that it is a tough, but fair, place to be. All prisons should be modeled after it.

 

[Scott]

George, was the Db in Gagetown out in the Blue Mountain area? Thought I saw something like a glasshouse out there once and seem to recall seeing it on a map.

 

[George Wallace]

George, was the Db in Gagetown out in the Blue Mountain area? Thought I saw something like a glasshouse out there once and seem to recall seeing it on a map.

Blue Mountain had been a Minimum Security Prison before the Military took it over and used it the same way that Petersville is used.   The DB was torn down (?) a couple of years ago.   It used to be out at the end of Champlain Ave, past 22 Fd Sqn, behind the old railhead.   Between the Railhead and Camp Argonaut.   The Comms Sqn used it as a form of 'Diefenbunker'/Message Center for many years.


GW

 

[Scott]

Ah yes, they showed us the old DB when we went to the gas hut. Thanks.

 

[Spr.Earl]

I have had the pleasure of being part of a Prisoner Escort for one unlucky soul to Club Ed.
As soon as we stepped in the door the guards started by making the prisoner come too attention.
Then making him remove his boot laces and belt.
It was deathly quite inside and to think it looks like a high shool from the out side.

We had to hang around for all the paper work to be done and the Prisoner had been physically inspected to make sure we had not abused him then we signed the body over.

Before taking charge of the prisoner,he is given a phsical by an M.O. and then you sign for him and the same happens at the other end.
Quit the process being part of an Escort.

 

[Ian_M]

Heres a question, quite an interesting one, at least I think so.

Are officers and enlisted held in seperate facilities, or segregated in any way?

The reason I think its an interesting question is due to the class distinctions that once were quite vast between officers and enlisted, somthing today which is becoming more narrow, especially in the past 30 years.

 

[Spr.Earl]

A very good point!
Yes we are all supposed to be treated equal but in all my time in I have not heard of an Officer being incarcerated in Club Ed. but do know of one who was demoted and lost what ever for" Negligence Causing Death" and I don't know what has happened to him since.

 

[Ian_M]

I read somewhere in the QR&Os or CFAOs, one of them about prisoner transfers and the like, and I couldn't find anything regarding a commissioned officer, I'm guessing that there dealt with differently? Either losing their commission and being sent to civilian prison or somthing?

 

[Spr.Earl]

D.B only deals with sentense's for 2 years less a day then if your sentence is more you will finish your time in a Fed Goal.

 

[Coyote43D]

Heres a question, quite an interesting one, at least I think so.

Are officers and enlisted held in seperate facilities, or segregated in any way?

The reason I think its an interesting question is due to the class distinctions that once were quite vast between officers and enlisted, somthing today which is becoming more narrow, especially in the past 30 years.

When my course did a tour of DB they told us that officers and NCM's are segregated.NCM's on the first floor and officers on the second. I don't know if it's the same in the new DB though.

A funny part of the tour was when one of our instructors looked up at a cell number and said 'cell 16?......HEY that's my old cell!!!'

 

[Sheerin]

How many CF members currently reside there?

 

[hiv]

How many CF members are currently reside there?

There was an article the in Maple Leaf about the new prison not long ago. I recall reading that they currently had 25 "guests".

 

[Sheerin]

thats not so bad.
I wonder what the most common charge is?

 

[hiv]

thats not so bad.
I wonder what the most common charge is?

Well, based on informal, anecdotal tales I've heard, most people tend to end up there for assaulting a superior officer/NCM. However, sometimes I look over the JAG court martial calendar on their website and it seems the large majority of court martials are for sexual assaults. So I would assume some combination of the two would comprise the crimes of most of the inmate population.

 

[Sheerin]

From looking at the listed results from previous courts martial (only going back to May of this year) I was kinda surprised that the longest sentance given out was for 45 days (and that was for Pte. Liu who drew a weapon on a superior officer). 
Also looking through the NDA i've noticed that there are a lot of offenses that could get one life imprisonment.  Does anyone know how if there has ever been a Canadian solider sentanced to life for Insubordination

84. Every person who strikes or attempts to strike, or draws or lifts up a weapon against, or uses, attempts to use or offers violence against, a superior officer is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to imprisonment for life or to less punishment

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

Wonder if that was this lad?


http://army.ca/forums/members/543

From looking at the listed results from previous courts martial (only going back to May of this year) I was kinda surprised that the longest sentance given out was for 45 days (and that was for Pte. Liu who drew a weapon on a superior officer).