Alberta Justice has confirmed an inmate has died at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre.
The female inmate was found unresponsive in her cell on April 17.
The inmate has been identified by family members as 37-year-old mother of three, Jessica Joy Good Rider.
Corrections staff and Alberta Health Services responded, treating the woman with naloxone nasal spray.
Lethbridge EMS also responded and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
A family member that didn’t want to be named said they have many questions, such as how long EMS tried to resuscitate Rider, if she said anything before her death or if she seemed suicidal.
The family member said they haven’t been able to get in contact with the Lethbridge Correctional Centre.
According to the province, LCC has had seven overdoses from September 2017 to March 31, 2018.
Susan Slade, the vice-president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees in the Lethbridge region, said the union has been calling for wider availability to overdose resources.
“The only staff trained in using naloxone are supervisors at LCC. Naloxone saves lives and front-line staff need to have access to the kits and be trained on how to properly administer the antidote. AUPE has called for greater access to naloxone.”
Slade also said LCC is hoping to obtain a body scanner.
“There is no body scanner at LCC. The province did launch a body scanner pilot project at the Edmonton Remand Centre last fall. AUPE has requested this technology be installed for some time as part of ongoing efforts to improve safety at correctional facilities around Alberta. Following the test run in Edmonton, we’re hopeful this technology will be installed at other provincial centres, including LCC.”
Alberta Justice spokesperson Dan Laville said as part of protocol, the entire jail unit was searched and the RCMP and coroners were notified.
He said no other inmates were provided with naloxone.
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