Hunger strike at Hamilton jail ends after inmates, staff reach 'resolution'

Inmates at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre on Barton Street East have ended their hunger strike after five days, with inmates and jail administrators coming to a "resolution."

Cedar Hopperton, a volunteer with the Barton Prisoner Solidarity Project, told CBC Hamilton the strike ended late Monday after administration at the maximum-security facility agreed to improve conditions at the jail. 

"I feel like it's a win," Hopperton said.

Greg Flood, a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Solicitor General, confirmed to CBC inmates ended their strike and the ministry is "pleased to see there is a resolution."

The strike started April 19 as inmates protested what they said were constant lockdowns, a lack of outdoor time, issues with mail service and the threat of losing specialty TV channels.

Inmates at the Niagara Detention Centre were also refusing meals as of last week. It's unclear if they're still protesting and whether their hunger strike was related. 

Hopperton said the administration at Hamilton's jail agreed to improve conditions, including:

• On short-staffed days, there will be rotating lockdowns so inmates still have some time out of their cells and will not be confined for longer periods.
• Yard time and smudging three times a week.
• Improving mail issues.
• Regular access to shaving razors and fresh bedding.
• Pushing evening lock-up time to 8 p.m.

Flood didn't answer questions about the reported agreement.

"We're encouraging the administration to follow through on those demands on good faith and understand there will be more resistance if they don't," Hopperton said.

Hopperton said inmates are eating again but advocates won't stop watching conditions at the facility.

"They got through it strong and united," Hopperton said.

Jesse Bull, the inmate who says he started the hunger strike, previously told CBC Hamilton he wasn't sure the problems would ever get resolved.

"I just feel like this is one of those situations that will never get solved ... it's a broken system," he said.

It's the first strike this year, but is one of a few in recent memory.

Prisoners were on strike last March about yard time, cleaning supplies and clean bedding, amid a COVID-19 outbreak.

There was another strike in August 2020 related to access to books, soap, yard time, lockdowns and long delays when receiving mail.