KAWARTHA LAKES-On August 13, 2023, Jaime Restrepo, an inmate from Beaver Creek Institution in Gravenhurst, died while in custody.
Officials say at the time of death, the inmate had been serving an indeterminate sentence, which commenced on July 10, 2008, for first-degree murder.
The inmate’s next of kin have been notified.
As in all cases involving the death of an inmate, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) will review the circumstances. CSC policy requires that the police and the coroner be notified.
The Federal government is tasked with providing an annual report on deaths in custody although the last one made public was in 2016/17.
In 2016/2017, the majority of deaths were the result of natural causes (81%) according to the report. There were also three deaths by suicide, four by overdose, and two by homicide. The government says there were no accidental deaths or deaths where staff were involved during this fiscal year. In general, this makeup of deaths in custody is consistent with trends over the last 16 years.
The report found offenders who died in custody varied considerably but tended to be White, serving sentences for a homicide-related offence, and serving indeterminate sentences. Those who died from natural causes tended to be older (M = 59.83). More specifically, 71% of offenders who died from natural causes were over the age of 55 years, while those who died of non-natural causes were younger (M = 41.46 years; 81% were between 18 and 54 years of age.
No other details on the death of Restrepo were provided.
