Media coverage of the UMCLC – Prison Law Clinic and their representation of Ms. Geraldine Mason

A woman from northern Manitoba with no criminal charges spent a month in jail after public health officials ordered her detained to treat her tuberculosis, even though she wasn’t infectious at the time.

Geraldine Mason, 36, was arrested under the Public Health Act on Oct. 27 and initially ordered to spend three months at the Winnipeg Remand Centre or Women’s Correctional Centre.

The UMCLC – Prison Law Clinic represented Ms. Mason in a legal challenge to her detention and staff lawyer Leif Jensen was successful in getting her released. In response to questions from the media about the legal challenge, Premier Kinew has indicating he has directed Manitoba’s Chief Public Health Officer to ban the use of jail as a means of detention under the Public Health Act. 

Here are some of the articles written about the case:

Winnipeg Free Press: Kinew orders end to using jail to force TB treatment after Manitoba woman’s detention

The Canadian Press (via The Globe and Mail): Manitoba’s Premier promises to change incarceration policy for people with tuberculosis

CBC Manitoba Investigates: Health order sending Manitoba woman to jail for tuberculosis treatment ‘wildly excessive’: lawyer

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs: AMC Condemns Incarceration of First Nations Woman for Tuberculosis Treatment