Ottawa jail cell birth leads to dismissal, suspensions
Employees at an Ottawa jail where a woman gave birth inside her cell last year have been disciplined following a provincial investigation.
The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services confirmed Tuesday that following a special investigation, the ministry has suspended, reprimanded or fired some workers at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre, but it declined to provide details on how many employees were disciplined and the exact punishments.
Julie Bilotta of Cornwall, Ont., gave birth to her son, Gionni, on the evening of Sept. 29, 2012, while she was in a segregated jail cell at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre.
Bilotta has alleged guards and nurses ignored her cries of pain for several hours before she gave birth and said she was "traumatized" by the experience and the "degrading" treatment she received.
She was first jailed Sept. 24 when she was already about eight months pregnant.
