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Inmate beaten after Manitoba jails offer treats to encourage COVID-19 vaccination

The directive to offer provincial jail inmates free canteen products and a meat tray, if a minimum number agreed to be vaccinated for COVID-19, was quickly revamped after at least one reluctant inmate was assaulted, the Free Press has learned.

Snacks, meat and cheese tray, phone call to family used as incentives

Winnipeg Free Press ·
There was at least one reported incident of a Headingley Correctional Centre inmate assaulting another inmate who did not want to be vaccinated. (Mikaela Mackenzie/WInnipeg Free Press Files)

The directive to offer provincial jail inmates free canteen products and a meat tray, if a minimum number agreed to be vaccinated for COVID-19, was quickly revamped after at least one reluctant inmate was assaulted, the Winnipeg Free Press has learned.

The email directive issued to jail administrators Friday quickly pitted inmates who wanted the "reward" against those who didn't want to be vaccinated, exposing both inmates and staff to increased risk of violence, a source said Monday.

To read more on this story from the Winnipeg Free Press, click here. 

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