Now, prisoners are only held in provincial jails after they've been remanded into custody by a judge or judicial justice of the peace. Balcaen said officers have been taken off the streets to look after prisoners locked away at their headquarters. Brandon police are keeping prisoners in detention cells without bathrooms, sometimes for periods over 24 hours, he said. More than 100 prisoners have been held for longer than 24 hours, including one individual for 43 hours, he said. Justice Minister Cliff Cullen wrote in a letter to Winnipeg's police chief that moving away from direct lockups has 'long-term merit.'

Source: CBC News June 10, 2020 22:37 UTC