The union that represents ten corrections officers originally charged in the death of 33-year-old Jonathan Henoche at HMP in November of 2019 is reaching out to the members involved now that criminal charges are no longer being pursued in the matter.
Public Prosecutions has determined that there would be no further criminal proceedings against those originally charged in the case.
The officers were discharged following a judicial review of the evidence, including a second medical opinion indicating Henoche may have died from a pre-existing medical condition. The divergent qualified medical opinions compelled Crown Attorneys to conclude that there was no likelihood that any of those charged would be convicted.
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NAPE represents the officers involved. Union President Jerry Earle says his first course of business will be to reach out to the officers, something he could not do while court proceedings were underway.
He says the union asserted from the very beginning that the officers performed their duties correctly.
The incident and subsequent legal proceedings have had a significant impact on morale according to Earle who also offered his condolences to Henoche’s loved ones.
“This has been beyond devastating,” says Earle, not only for the officers involved, but for their families and colleagues as well. He’s hopeful that some positive things to come out of the sad situation is enhanced mental health supports for inmates and improved mental health training for staff.
