Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Friday, July 18, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The absence of women's prison facilities was highlighted in Yellowknife court on Tuesday, in a case revealing a woman had spent 17 days in RCMP detachment cells.

Linda Firth, 21, was convicted of nine charges relating to failure to appear in court and one charge of mischief. Defence attorney Hugh Latimer argued Firth should receive more credit for time served given that she was in RCMP holding cells in Yellowknife and Inuvik for 17 days, in addition to eight days at the Fort Smith correctional facility for women.

Latimer mentioned the fact that Yellowknife has no facility for female inmates and they often remain in RCMP holding cells, which he described as "disgusting."

He said Firth described "how disgusting it was to be in the cells and see the drunk people coming in."

"How uncomfortable for her," he said. "Much more than it would be for a man."

Male prisoners who held in North Slave Correctional Centre in Yellowknife, but there is no jail for women in the city.

Other defence attorneys have raised the same issue. In the May 5 News/North, Kelly Payne spoke of a female defendant who had been remanded in RCMP cells for six days. During sentencing Judge Robert Gorin said the woman had "been incarcerated under harsher conditions."

Firth was sentenced to 120 days in jail with 67 days of credit for 25 days served.

The sentence "is lower than what I think it should be," said Bruser, who had some harsh words for Firth. He said Firth deserved a lengthy sentence "for doing what you did 10 times."

Bruser scolded Firth in court, noting that she has a lengthy criminal record.

"That's where you are, you've been ground right down," said Bruser. "You can cry all you want. This court is not here to counsel you."