Family speaks out following brother’s death due to injuries at B.C. Regional Correctional Centre

“The neurologist that was on call for all of B.C. said it was one of the worst CT scans he’s ever seen. So how long was he left unattended to allow that kind of damage to occur?” Savage said.

“BC Corrections and the BC Coroners Service are investigating. The BC Coroners Service’s investigation is independent and will look to determine how, where, when and by what means the individual came to their death. For its part, BC Corrections will conduct a review into the circumstances,” the statement from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General read.

Savage explained prior to his passing, Champagne was in the hospital before for self harm and suicidal ideation. She stressed that she doesn’t want to place blame on any specific institution or person, as the investigation is still underway, but believes as a whole more could’ve, and should’ve, been done to prevent this.

“He had steadily declining mental health, which led to even further alcoholism. And I think what he really needed more than anything was mental health support, some easily accessible rehabilitation programs,” she said.

“Jail time with mandatory rehabilitation while incarcerated, or jail time with mandatory counseling, or jail time with mandatory addiction counseling. I mean, there’s just so many options out there,” she continued.

While the issue is complex with many layers, with Savage herself saying she understands the many levels and costs that could be associated, she believes treatment for mental health and addictions is a must. Not just to prevent situations like what happened to her brother, but for all those who’s lives are lost who don’t have anyone to speak up for them, and the amount of lives that could potentially be saved with proper care.

“Everyone’s so cold and callous about it and they completely forget that they’re people too, and they just take this completely dehumanizing approach to to all of these people, despite the circumstances. And I think taking that stigma out of addiction, that stigma out of mental health problems, is the first step in trying to help,” Savage said, when explaining her thoughts on both society’s and the system’s attitude towards anyone battling addiction.

With that being said, Savage is also a firm believer that people do need to be held accountable, and mental health isn’t an excuse to have a free pass to behave however you would like. However, she hopes to see a balancing act where people can be held accountable and put in jail when necessary, but also still receive care and rehabilitation to prepare them for society again.

“My brother is a victim in this situation, but at the same time for what he went to jail for, he deserved to be in jail, like he’s not a saint. He had done terrible things, he had a criminal record, and there is a complex balance between holding people accountable and trying to rehabilitate them, and it’s how we find that balance,” she said.

“I’m not saying he should have gotten a free pass because he had addiction and mental health problems, that’s not the case, it’s just we needed to help him,” she continued.

The statement from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General concluded by affirming that every person entering custody is extensively screened for serious illness and any potential for self-harm and possible suicide.

“Though privacy laws prevent BC Corrections from releasing further details, BC Corrections can confirm that both BC Corrections and the Provincial Health Services Authority Correctional Health Services team, who is responsible for health care services for individuals within custody, extensively screen every person entering custody to help identify seriously ill individuals and prevent self-harm and suicide. This includes being seen by a nurse and mental health screener within 24-hours of admission into custody and ongoing health screenings and care as required for anyone identified as being at risk,” the statement read.

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by Tommy Osborne

Family speaks out following brother’s death due to injuries at B.C. Regional Correctional Centre

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