According to the BC Coroners Service, deaths in prisons have been increasing at an alarming rate over the last several years.
Between 2013 and 2023, there were 188 instances of death occurring in a BC correctional facility.
The average rate of death in those ten years was 17, however in 2023 alone, 25 deaths occurred.
Between 2018 and 2023, just in the last five years, the BC Coroners Service says the number of deaths has increased by 56%.
“Males accounted for the majority of deaths at both provincial and federal facilities,” wrote a BC Coroners Service spokesperson in a press release.
“From 2013 to 2023, males made up 98% of deaths, while between 2018 and 2023, no female decedents were reported.”
According to the BC Coroners Service, around 60% (114) of the deaths reported took place in federal penitentiaries.
Meanwhile the remaining 40% (74) of deaths occurred in provincial correctional facilities.
“More than half of deaths at federal facilities were reported at Pacific Institution in Abbotsford,” the BC Coroners Service reported.
“One-third of the deaths at provincial facilities were reported at Surrey Pretrial Services Centre.”
When it comes to the circumstances behind these deaths over the last 10 years, the BC Coroners Service has determined that 17 deaths were accidental, and 12 of those deaths were caused by toxic drug use.
In addition to this statistic, they say that 15 deaths could be attributed to suicide in the last 10 years, four were deemed homicide and 58 were natural deaths.
At this time, not all cause of death investigations have been completed.
