The province said it will review the death of 34-year-old Kimberly Squirrel.
The Yellow Quill First Nation woman was found frozen to death in a Saskatoon residential area Jan. 23, three days after being released from the Pine Grove Correctional Centre in Prince Albert. She was discovered wearing thin clothes.
“As a result of the concerns around Ms. Squirrel’s death, Minister Wyant and I have requested a review into the circumstances surrounding her release,” said Corrections and Policing Minister Christine Tell. “This is in addition to the investigations being conducted by the Saskatoon Police Service and the Coroners Service.”
The family has expressed to the media that they feel Squirrel would still be living, had they’d known she was being released.
“Ministry officials work diligently to ensure these individuals have access to the supports and programming they may need. This can at times be a challenge, but we are committed to working with our sector partners to address these issues and improve the outcomes for those who come into contact with the justice system,” Tell said.
(Photo: Pine Grove Correctional Centre)