Aboriginal Man Mistakenly Kept In Jail For Months

Aboriginal Man Mistakenly Kept In Jail For Months

Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 13:10

A Saskatchewan First Nations man who spent six more months in jail than he was supposed to is thinking about launching a lawsuit.

According to the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 19-year-old Kyle Dufresne of the Big Island Lake Cree Nation was set free from a Saskatoon prison on October 15th — more than six months after his 45-day sentence for breach of probation had expired.

Shortly after beginning his sentence in March, he was told by a case worker in Prince Albert that his sentence was 12 months.

Dufresne says he told several jail guards about his situation, but ended up serving time in Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon before someone noticed the mistake a couple of weeks ago.

Corrections Minister Darryl Hickie says the government will be offering a compensation package to Dufresne for his ordeal.

Hickie won’t say when that will be — but notes a review of the situation has already been ordered.

Hickie is also offering his apology, and adds the length of time Dufresne spent behind bars concerns him greatly.