Second inmate in two months found dead in Kamloops prison

B.C. Corrections is launching a review of the death of an inmate at the Kamloops prison.

Daryl Vic Belseck, 52, was found dead at Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre on January 19. His death isn’t considered suspicious, but the Corners Service continues to investigate the death.

It is the second inmate death at the same facility in the past few months, after 20-year-old Dylan Judd was found unresponsive in his cell during morning checks on Nov. 10.

Cindy Rose of B.C. Corrections says every in-custody death is a tragedy that is taken very seriously.

An auditor general’s report on B.C. prisons released just last week concluded provincial jails are operating at 140 per cent capacity and more than half the inmates share cells meant for one. NDP justice critic Mike Farnworth believes overcrowding and understaffing are reducing safety in jails.

“I think it’s important that the government ensures that information around this particular death is released and made public,” he said.

– With files from CFJC