Another prisoner mistakenly released but Sask. minister not notified for 4 days

Doug Moen said Saturday that Alan Mark Scott, 32, was released from Saskatoon provincial court last Monday. Justice officials thought Scott had been sentenced to time served, when in fact he was given eight months in jail.

"He has charges related to violence, I wouldn't describe him as a seriously violent individual, but there are charges of violence that he is being pursued for," Moen said.

The error was discovered the next day, but Moen and Justice Minister Don Morgan only found out about it Friday night - four days later. Morgan was unavailable for comment.

Saskatoon police issued an advisory Saturday afternoon asking the public for information leading to his arrest, Moen added. Late Saturday, police said Scott was arrested without incident in Prince Albert.

"It's frustrating, the public needs to feel they are safe and we have to get to the bottom of what exactly happened here," Moen said.

Moen said he will include Scott's case in a review underway of another prisoner mistakenly released in Regina.

John Albert Dumont, 29, was set free Wednesday after being acquitted of a robbery charge.

But Dumont - who RCMP consider dangerous - was supposed to remain in custody for a court appearance Dec. 19 in Prince Albert on a robbery charge, and officials weren't notified for more than a day.

"The public deserves to be protected and we are going to take measures, do everything we can to ensure that it doesn't happen again."

Moen said his review of both cases will discover why procedures weren't followed.

"It's not acceptable, the head office of the justice department should have known sooner than that, we should have known shortly thereafter..."

The review will cover the reasons for the improper release, why it was not reported to superiors in a timely manner, the length of time it took to turn the matter over to the police and what improvements can be made to prevent similar errors in the future.

On Friday, Corrections, Public Safety and Policing Minister Darryl Hickie suspended his deputy minister over the Dumont incident and subsequent time lag in notifying police and officials.

Hickie was outraged he wasn't notified immediately and said confidence in the system has to be questioned.

It's the third time that Saskatchewan residents have not been apprised of serious incidents in a timely fashion.

In August, six inmates broke out of the Regina Correctional Centre.

The public alert about the escape wasn't issued until more than 14 hours after it happened.

Hickie implemented a policy to alert the public immediately if there is an escape from any corrections centre.

Two staff members at the Regina Correctional Centre have also been suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation into Dumont's release.

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said Friday after the Dumont situation came to light that it was "unacceptable" and the public has a right to expect better.