By Canadian Press

Ailing federal prisoner who fears COVID-19 awaits word on early release

Apr 16, 2020 | 12:16 PM

OTTAWA — A inmate who has serious health problems and fears COVID-19 hopes to hear from the federal prison service today whether he will be let out of custody.

Otherwise, Derrick Snow’s case is slated to be heard in Federal Court via teleconference on Friday as pressure mounts for officials to release aging and frail prisoners who are more likely to suffer badly from the virus.

The 53-year-old Snow, who is serving a sentence at Ontario’s Bath Institution for breaking-and-entering and theft, has diabetes and pulmonary disease.

He is asking the court to allow him an unescorted temporary absence until his statutory release date or until the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, whichever is sooner.

In a letter Wednesday to the court and Snow’s lawyer Paul Champ, federal lawyers say the Correctional Service will decide by the end of today whether, and under what conditions, Snow can be released into the community.

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The lawyers previously argued the circumstances were not sufficiently urgent to require an imminent court hearing.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 16, 2020.

The Canadian Press