At EMDC inquest, a parent hopes for some accountability

Lisa Davis is skeptical, but hopeful, that a coroner's inquiry can lead to changes that will mean no other parent of an inmate at the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre (EMDC) has to share her pain.

Davis's son Murray James Davis was just 24 when he died during at stay at EMDCback in August of 2017.

His death, and two others at the notorious jail, are the subject of a joint coroner's inquiry that got underway Monday.

All three men died of opiate toxicity.

"I don't understand how these drugs are getting into the jail," said Davis during a break on the first dayof theinquest on Monday. "Why do they not try to stop it? There's got to be something they can do."

The other deaths the inquest is looking at are those of Floyd Deleary, who was 39 when he died back in August of 2015 and Justin Thompson, who was 27 and died in October of 2016.

Davis's skepticism is shared by Kevin Egan, the lawyer representing the families of the men who died.

During the inquest, five jurors will hear testimony from some 30 witnesses over about 12 days.

They may come back with recommendations, or may not. Even if they do come back with recommendations, the province doesn't have to follow them.

"They're just that, they're recommendations," said Egan. "They're not binding on anyone. It does become a bit of what I would call a toothless tiger. We go through this process, we think at the end of it someone's life is going to make a difference."

Coroner's inquests are mandatory anytime an inmate dies in custody, and there have been 15 deaths at EMDC since 2009 and four inquests have been made, not including the one that started on Monday.

An inquest into the July 2017 death of inmateMichael Fall wrapped up in September and included 11 recommendations. He died of a fentanyl overdose.

Egan, who is also heading up a class-action lawsuit against the Ontario government in response to deaths, violence and overcrowding at EMDC, hopes recommendations will address the opioidproblem at the root of so many recent jail deaths.

"I'd like to see some recommendations in regard to this to assist helping people kick their habit," he said.

The first day included testimony from Dr. Trevor Beaudoin, a toxicologist at Ontario's Centre for Forensic Sciences.

Fentanylpresent in all 3 deaths

Beaudoin reviewed the case notes and test material in each of the three deaths and testified that all three men had "topologically significant"levels of fentanyl in their system when they died.

The inquiry also heard from Sgt. Penny Rock who has worked at EMDC on and off since 2002, and was the shift in charge sergeant in 2015, responsible for overseeing staffing levels and other administrative matters.

"I don't understand how these drugs are getting into the jail- Lisa Davis, mother of the late Murray James Davis

She testified that EMDC, a provincial jail that handles prisoners held for trial or serving out sentences of less than two years, typically houses between 300 and 350 inmates on a given day.

High turnover a factor

Some inmates are there months, while others come an go in less than a day or two, she told the inquest.

In response to a question, she told the inquiry the high turnover in the inmate population presents challenges for staff.

"We have to learn to deal with everyone on a different level," she said. "You don't know what their situation is until you're standing there speaking with them."

She also admitted the fluctuating population is a factor in stopping contraband.

Rock also walked the inquest through the layout of the jail, and said not every spot where inmates congregate is visible from staff observation spots.

For example, unit 4 has a "more modern layout" that cuts down on the number of assaults.

But Unit 5, whereDelearydied, offers fewer direct observation spots.