The sister of a 34-year-old man who died at the Hamilton-Wentworth detention Center in 2017 says that the team who conducted the investigation was “fabulous”, but is frustrated that he could not hold anyone responsible through the process.
Amy McKechnie, whose brother, Ryan McKechnie, died on June 29, 2017, said it was also a “kick in the face” that took almost eight years to maintain the investigation of the coroner.
Ryan accidentally died of combined fentanyl, methamphetamine and amphetamine poisoning, the investigation jury found in February. But Forensic investigations do not have the task of assigning or making findings of guilt or innocence, something that Amy found frustrating since she believes that jail could have taken measures to avoid her death.
“Hopefully, we will avoid future deaths, but what about my loved one?” Amy said in an interview with CBC Hamilton.
Amy believes that prison staff made a mistake by putting Ryan in a cell with another inmate after the guards found smuggling in the cell they were sharing. She said that a body scan of the other inmate showed anomalies, suggesting that she had ingested drug packages. The next morning, Ryan did not wake up for breakfast and his cellmate asked for help.
Amy said people who worked as correctional staff at that time testified in the investigation. She said a witness told the jury that she would have done things differently looking back. None of the other workers said they would change their actions, he said, adding that he discovered that “disgusting.”
Since Ryan was imprisoned, an investigation into his death was mandatory under the Forensic Law of Ontario. During such procedures, the lawyers of the forensic and the parties, including the relatives of the deceased, ask the witnesses: they may include face -to -face witnesses, experts and institutional workers and officials.
Research jurors can make recommendations aimed at preventing future and similar deaths. The jury in Ryan’s investigation issued 18, most of them focused on the Ministry of the Attorney General, which supervises the corrections. They include:
- Updating staff training on how to interpret body scanning for smuggling with the understanding that a negative scan is not a guarantee that someone is smuggled free.
- Taking into account an audit of the effectiveness of smuggling detection through current scan protocols.
- Financing of support informed by trauma for families after the death of a loved one in custody.
- The clarification personnel must identify signs of life when routinely review the inmates.
In December, a one -week investigation for six men who died in Hamilton prison between 2017 and 2021 led to 55 recommendations. They included the development of a plan to offer a safe medication supply within the institution, ensuring that inmates are not penalized for informing overdose and improving access to treatment for substance use disorder.
Ryan’s death would originally be included in that investigation, said Amy, but was celebrated virtually and she pressed for a procedure in person, feeling that she would be more “human.” At his request, Ryan’s investigation was in person. The Forensic Office kept him in Toronto.
Amy said that autumn investigation continued and that she He attended one in 2018 that examined eight deaths at the detention center between 2012 and 2016. It resulted in 65 recommendations, But about half of them have not been in forceAutumn investigation was heard. The recommendations of the jurors of the investigation are not binding: another thing that Amy said he would change.
I refuse to let my brother’s death be in vain.– Amy McKechnie
For Amy, one of the key recommendations in Ryan’s investigation is that the fund of the Funding Support Ministry for families of inmates who die. She said she received little support, if she learned through a friend Ryan had died and then went to jail to confirm him.
In a brutal coincidence, he said, his father died the same day.
“I don’t think I lamented for them. I kept continuing.”
In addition to support at that time, said Amy, he would have appreciated financial assistance throughout the investigation.
She said she represented herself instead of hiring a lawyer because she couldn’t afford to her and had to pay her own accommodations to stay in Toronto.
On its website, the Chief Forensic Office says it offers two programs that can help families cover legal fees.
The office also works with the Police to provide support to families at the time of death, explain the investigation process and prepare them for investigation, said Stephanie Rea, spokesman for the Forensic Office, in an email.
Rea said the office also has a link to work with families and connect them to other support systems.
“The research process can be a very challenging moment for families, so we also allow them to trust their family or community support during the audience to the greatest extent possible, while maintaining the necessary integrity of the research process.”
Amy said that he also expects the Ministry and Hamilton prison to implement recommendations on scanners and body checks. She said that a more careful scan could have prevented her brother from getting drugs, and the guards who review the signs of life at night may have learned that Ryan needed help before it was too late.
Call for a better education, reimbursement help for inmates
In the future, said Amy, also wants the Ministry to implement a better education and help for inmates so that they can better reintegrate society after their release.
“You can’t simply lock someone in a cage, give them anything and wait for it to work,” he said.
Ryan was not just the negative, he said, adding that he was an incredible “brother”, fun more fun “and” he didn’t deserve what he had. “
Amy said she is also exploring other options to seek responsibility for Ryan and other inmates whose family members died in jail.
“I refuse to let my brother’s death be in vain.”
