Inmate who escaped Dorchester prison had history of violent crime

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The inmate who escaped Dorchester Penitentiary over the weekend has a history of violent crime, and has escaped custody before, according to Correctional Service of Canada.

CSC said around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, staff at the minimum-security prison found that Jermaine Browne was not accounted for. A warrant was issued for his arrest and Browne was found by police about an hour and a half later.

Sophia Doiron, a spokesperson for CSC, confirmed on Wednesday that Browne also went by Jermaine Carvery, who was serving a 41-year and eight-month sentence for a myriad of charges, including forcible confinement, attempted murder, armed robbery, and escaping lawful custody.

Carvery was sentenced in 2013 by the Nova Scotia Supreme Court for attempted murder, robbery and forcible confinement for four robberies with a total of close to $500,000 in cash and goods.

He was involved in robberies at a Costco in Halifax in 2004, a TRA Cash and Carry in Truro, Chrissy’s Trading Post in Hammonds Plains and at Direct Cash in Dartmouth in 2006. During the robberies the employees were tied up, and in one instance Carvery fired a shot that narrowly missed an employee’s head, according to the sentencing decision.

Other robberies include a Toys R Us store in Toronto, a Super Pet store, both in 2006, a Winners in Toronto in 2007, a Chanel store in Toronto in 2008, and while incarcerated he orchestrated a Cartier Jeweller robbery in 2009.

Carvery was an inmate at Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Burnside in 2008 when he escaped double leg shackles and fled correctional officers while being transported to hospital for dental surgery. He was found and arrested in Niagara, ON. about two months later, and during that time had committed the Chanel store robbery.

On Sunday, Carvery, known as Browne, was “unaccounted for” and when that happened, RCMP were called.

To make residents aware of the escape, the RCMP issued a post to let locals know to avoid the area. Browne was recaptured very shortly after his escape, and CSC issued a news release notifying the public of the incident.

Doiron said the length of his sentence could be “subject to change” because the escape could result in additional criminal charges.

When Doiron was asked if Browne would return to the minimum-security facility, she said CSC does not disclose the location of inmates.

“When an offender is recaptured, a new risk assessment is carried out to ensure they continue to be placed in an institution with the appropriate security level,” she said.

CSC regularly assesses all inmates to ensure that they are placed at the “appropriate security level,” said Doiron.

“One of the main factors that we take into account when considering the transfer of inmates to lower-security level facilities is the progress made in addressing the needs identified in their correctional plan, which outlines what they must do to address the factors that led to their criminal behaviour,” she said.

“Only those offenders who are assessed as having a low risk to public safety can be placed in a minimum-security institution.”

According to the CSC the environment of a minimum-security institution is intended to develop an inmate’s capacity to operate with “minimal monitoring.”

“This plays a very important role in the process of reintegrating offenders back into the community and helping them become law-abiding citizens,” said Doiron.