Kent Institution

Prison in British Columbia, Canada

Kent Institution (French: Établissement de Kent) is a Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) facility located in Agassiz, British Columbia. Opened in 1979, Kent is the only maximum security federal penitentiary in the CSC's Pacific region, which includes the province of British Columbia and the Yukon territory. The majority of prisoners at the facility are sentenced in other provinces. Educational programs, as well as socialization and employment, play a significant role at the institution. The facility employs over 300 people. The capacity (number of inmates) is 378.[1]

## Major incidents

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June 19, 1990 – Two prisoners, Robert Lee Ford and David Thomas, escaped when a hijacked helicopter landed in the courtyard. Correctional Officer R. KIRBY was shot during the incident and survived.[2]

May 1999 – Eighty-four prisoners rioted and barricaded themselves in the gym before the ERT could be called in to defuse the situation.[3]

June 2003 – One prisoner was stabbed to death while prisoners in three units rioted, setting fires and barricading doors until the ERT responded and locked down the institution.[4]

January 5, 2004 - A 19-year-old prisoner was stabbed twice in the abdomen.[5]

April 6, 2004 - A prisoner was stabbed.[6]

May 9, 2004 - A prisoner was stabbed while inside his cell.[7]

May 18, 2004 - A prisoner was stabbed numerous times.[8]

August 20, 2004 - A prisoner was stabbed.[9]

November 2008 – One prisoner, Andrew Robert Craig, was stabbed to death in the institution's gymnasium. Four prisoners have since been charged with first-degree murder, which indicates the police have evidence that the crime was premeditated.[10]

March 18, 2009 - A prisoner commits suicide.[11]

January 28, 2010 - Two assaults against officers at Kent Institution. A warning shot was fired.[12]

March 19, 2010 - A prisoner was stabbed in the gymnasium. Warning shots were fired by staff.[13]

April 16, 2010 - Officers seize 19 grams of heroin.[14]

August 4, 2010 - A prisoner was stabbed in a living unit. Warning shots were fired by officers.[15]

November 14, 2010 - A prisoner was stabbed in the gymnasium.[16]

March 27, 2011 - A prisoner was stabbed in the weight training area of the gymnasium.[17]

May 20, 2011 - A prisoner was stabbed.[18]

July 13, 2011 - A prisoner was found dead in his cell.[19]

May 2013 - Jesse Lahn, 33, was found hanging in his cell in segregation.[20]

## Notable inmates, past and present

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* Eric Carty, conspirator in the Pan murders; died in his cell on April 26, 2018[21]
* Lenford Crawford, conspirator in the murder of Bich-Ha Pan and the attempted murder of Hann Pan, masterminded by Jennifer Pan[22]
* Terry Driver[23]
* Edward Dennis Isaac, serial killer who murdered one woman and two teenage girls.[24]
* Michael Wayne McGray[25]
* Robert Pickton
* Stephen Reid
* Cody Legebokoff, serial killer from the Highway of Tears[26]
* William Faulder "Fats" Robertson[27]

## References

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1. ^ "Institutional Profiles - KENT INSTITUTION". Correctional Service of Canada. 17 July 2008. Retrieved 15 Nov 2008.
2. ^ "Justice behind the Walls – Publications". Retrieved 21 Jul 2011.
3. ^ "B.C. prison riot ends peacefully". CBC News. 8 May 1999. Retrieved 15 Nov 2008.
4. ^ "B.C. prison riot leaves one dead". CBC News. 17 June 2003. Retrieved 15 Nov 2008.
5. ^ "Assault at Kent". CSC. January 5, 2004. Retrieved 15 Nov 2008.
6. ^ "Assault at Kent". CSC. April 6, 2004. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 15 Nov 2008.
7. ^ "Assault at Kent". CSC. May 9, 2004. Retrieved 15 Nov 2008.
8. ^ "Assault at Kent". CSC. May 18, 2004. Retrieved 15 Nov 2008.
9. ^ "Assault at Kent". CSC. August 20, 2004. Retrieved 15 Nov 2008.
10. ^ "Four charged in 2008 Kent prison murder". Chilliwack Times. May 20, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
11. ^ "INMATE SUICIDE - KENT INSTITUTION". CSC. March 18, 2009. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
12. ^ "TWO ASSAULTS ON STAFF AT KENT INSTITUTION". CSC. January 28, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
13. ^ "Lockdown -Kent Institution". CSC. March 19, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
14. ^ "Contraband Seizure". CSC. April 16, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
15. ^ "Lockdown - Kent Institution". CSC. August 4, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
16. ^ "Lockdown - Kent Institution". CSC. November 14, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
17. ^ "Lockdown - Kent Institution Between January 8 and January 18, 2010". CSC. March 27, 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
18. ^ "Lockdown - Kent Institution Between January 8 and January 18, 2010". CSC. May 20, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
19. ^ "Inmate Death". CSC. July 13, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
20. ^ Wife looks for answers after husband’s suicide in Kent prison \- Kim Bolan, The Vancouver Sun, May 6, 2013
21. ^ Grimaldi, Jeremy (2018-06-26). "Eric Carty, linchpin in Jennifer Pan murder plot, dies in jail". Markham Economist & Sun. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
22. ^ Grimaldi, Jeremy. A Daughter's Deadly Deception: The Jennifer Pan Story. Dundurn Books, November 12, 2016. ISBN 1459735250, 9781459735255 p. 313. "Lenford Crawford currently resides at Kent Institution[...]"
23. ^ Neal Hall (August 22, 2006). "Victim's family upset at return of killer". The Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on May 9, 2012. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
24. ^ "Third killing nets murderer extra life term". April 17, 1989. p. 18. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
25. ^ Famous Serial Killers Behind Bars. June, 2013, Insideprison.com. Retrieved on: 2013-08-17.
26. ^ Kelly, Cole (2019-03-18). "Minister of Public Safety defends Legebokoff's move to medium security prison". My Prince George Now. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
27. ^ Hawthorn, T. (July 19, 2011) Gary Bannerman, radio host (1947-2011). Special to The Globe and Mail. Retrieved on: 2011-09-10.

## External links

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* Kent Institution \- Correctional Service Canada

49°15′34″N 121°49′50″W﻿ / ﻿49.25944°N 121.83056°W﻿ / 49.25944; -121.83056