Citizens' representative repeats call to replace HMP doctor
Fleming spoke after a 19-year-old asked for longer prison sentence
Newfoundland and Labrador's citizens' representative is repeating his call to replace provincial penitentiary psychiatrist David Craig after a woman asked to serve federal time to avoid having Craig treat her.
On Friday, convicted robber Camille Strickland-Murphy asked a judge to sentence her to two years plus a day. Sentences of more than two years are served in federal prisons outside of Newfoundland and Labrador.
"Irrational policies lead to irrational behaviour. It’s counter-intuitive that somebody would want extra prison time, but if that is to facilitate their health that makes sense," said citizens' representative Barry Fleming.
"The reason her decision is necessary is the psychiatrist at [Her Majesty's Penitentiary]."
Her lawyer originally asked that she receive a shorter sentence of less than two years so she could be in St. John’s near her family.
Strickland-Murphy has been in custody since her arrest. Lawyer Peter Ralph said Friday that Craig has already changed the medication she was prescribed by her own physician.
Strickland-Murphy, who struggles with mental health issues, now believes she will get better care outside her home province.
Fleming repeated what he recommended when he reviewed Craig’s work for the justice system in 2011 after he received complaints about Craig's prescribing habits. Fleming concluded that Craig should be replaced immediately.
"It was our recommendation that a more mainstream psychiatrist is required for the province’s correctional facilities. I’ve seen no evidence from the time we released that report [March 2011], which would vary my recommendation," he said.
Other inmates have complained in the past that Craig takes them off prescribed medications.
His work was discussed in January when prison guard Edward Taylor was convicted of trying to smuggle drugs into prison. In court, Judge Wayne Dymond ordered that Taylor's prescriptions to treat mental illness should be continued in prison.
In March 2011, the provincial justice minister ordered a peer review of Craig's work at the penitentiary but it hasn't reported yet.
CBC's call to Craig's office Friday was not returned.
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