Edmonton Institution, correctional jail in Alberta, Canada
Edmonton Institution is a maximum-security prison in Edmonton, Alberta, designed to hold men serving lengthy sentences. The facility features a red brick exterior, concrete walls, and long corridors monitored from guard posts, with capacity for approximately 324 inmates.
The prison opened in 1978 and became a major regional facility for housing inmates classified as dangerous. Over the decades, it experienced serious incidents including riots, gang conflicts during the 1980s and 2000s, and notable escape attempts that involved cutting through fences and using makeshift tactics.
Visits require prior authorization since this is a maximum-security facility with strict visitor and safety protocols in place. The prison is located roughly 18 kilometers from downtown Edmonton and is easily accessible from Highway 15 on the city's west side.
Harvey Andres, an inmate, managed to escape twice between 1981 and 1982, first using a dummy figure and a garbage truck, then with wire cutters during a snowstorm. These unconventional escape methods made headlines and demonstrated the challenges of securing a maximum-security facility.
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