A letter from Whitehorse Correctional Centre inmates stating they may file a human rights complaint is a 'standard sort of letter,' says Sharon Hickey, the territory's director of community corrections and adult probation.

'A letter of complaint is standard,' she said in an interview this week.

The April 19 letter from the inmates committee outlines numerous concerns from medical care to security ratings.

Hickey said officials in the territorial Justice department met with the inmate committee chair after the letter was brought forward to address issues that could be dealt with.

The letter lists 13 issues, including, in its words:

• providing withdrawal medication for smokers;

• a dietitian and cook who care;

• a canteen adjustment;

• getting Boost or Ensure products in the canteen;

• easier access to a doctor;

• 'not having to beg to see the doctor';

• having weights available;

• proper security ratings;

• more committee meetings;

• outside Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings;

• fair treatment to guards so it's easier for inmates to talk to them; and

• getting back the spring solstice celebrations.

Hickey said the concerns were discussed 'line by line' at the meeting.

Management is looking at ways of addressing specific concerns such as getting Ensure and Boost in the canteen.

While that's a possibility, major meal changes aren't expected. The current menu meets Canada Food Guide standards, said Hickey, though she acknowledged it is institutional food, which often brings on complaints.

On health care, the inmates committee couldn't provide any situations where someone needing a doctor's attention wasn't able to get it.

'There were no specifics,' she said.

Currently inmates are seen by the staff doctor on a priority basis after they visit the nurse. The nurse assesses each patient and prioritizes, similar to the way emergency ward staff operate at Whitehorse General Hospital, said Hickey.

That is also the process used at jails across the country in addressing the health care of its inmates. It also meets medical standards that are in place, said Hickey.

The jail may revisit its policy on quit-smoking aides. When the 39-year-old facility initially went smoke-free, the nicotine patch was provided to inmates.

That was taken away when they began smoking that, which made the staff feel sick. It may be time to look at the possibility of providing some sort of stop-smoking aide to inmates again, Hickey acknowledged.

It's unlikely weights will be provided to inmates, as free weights can create a security risk, said Hickey. A universal gym could be an alternative if there was more room, she noted.

'We don't have the facility,' she said. The current gym, which includes a couple of basketball nets, is smaller than most high school gymnasiums, she pointed out.

Similar to the medical situation, Hickey said, the inmates committee didn't provide specific instances on the programs they want to see offered.

The programming available to inmates is based on their security rating. The jail is going to a different rating system used at other institutions across the country.

The inmates took issue with the spring solstice event being cancelled, stating it was replaced by providing Pizza Hut pizza instead. That made it clear, the letter stated, first nation members and their support workers have no say in what goes on at WCC.

Hickey explained there may have been logistical issues in organizing the solstice event.