Advertisement

Ashley Smith inquest must play out in full

Recently-released video of Ashley Smith strapped down in the custody of Corrections Canada, her hands duct taped and a mesh bag over her head, is difficult to watch. It is enough to make any viewer ask questions, demand something — anything — be done to stop it from happening again.

The video was released during a hearing ahead of a coroner's inquest into the young woman's death despite objections from lawyers representing Corrections Canada.

The death of Ashley Smith, who strangled herself in a prison cell in 2007, has been the focus of debate for years. But nothing has forced tougher questions that this disturbing video.

Smith was first imprisoned at the age of 15 after throwing a crab apple at a postman. Her behaviour while in custody kept her there and eventually led to her moving into the federal adult prison system. One year after that, and nine institutions later, the girl was dead.

Related stories:

Her family's lawyer alleges the video shows Smith being mistreated in her final days. Seeing the child strapped to a gurney with men dressed in riot gear surrounding her as she receives a chemical restraint injections, it is hard not to agree.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was questioned this week on the content of the video, as political opponents accused his government of standing in the way of a complete investigation.

His response, likely to enrage those prone to outrage, was to admit the video showed action that was "completely unacceptable," but to remain on the sideline.

Via the Canadian Press, Harper said he would let the "arguments between lawyers" play out and not interfere.

The sad fact of it is, there little for Harper to do, or for any of us to do, until the investigation into tragic death of Ashley Smith reaches its conclusion. Stay out of the way, and let the investigators proceed unimpeded.

Five years after her strangulation went unnoticed by prison guards, people are starting to notice. The Canadian Press reports that the government has finally demanded Corrections Canada co-operate fully with the provincial inquest.

Through her sad death and this investigation, Ashley Smith has become a special case. But they should all be special cases. How does a girl go into prison a child and end up, years later, being duct taped to a chair, being threatened by those tasked to watch over her?

[ More Brew: Rob Ford flagged again for putting football over council ]

There are parts of the story that even this video does not show. The release of this video is a start, and ensuring Corrections Canada is onside is the next step.

The Globe and Mail addressed that question in a recent editorial:

Rather than try to block publication of the videos, the Correctional Service should want everyone to know what it surely already knows — that it is singularly unequipped to handle severe mental illness.

This is not to let the Correctional Service off the hook for its treatment of Ms. Smith. Canadians have a right to expect that the federal authorities would set the highest possible standard in their treatment of mentally ill prisoners. They didn't.

Hopefully more video will be released when the coroner's inquest begins in January. And more stories of mistreatment and misunderstanding will be heard, will have to be heard.

Because no one is happy about how Ashley Smith died. But one on knows what to do about it yet.