The inquest into the death of Kevin Mamakwa at Thunder Bay Jail has revealed alarming conditions within the facility, characterized by chronic understaffing and overcrowding. Testimony from correctional officer Jeffrey Bell indicated that the jail often exceeds its operational capacity of 134 inmates, sometimes housing over 200. Bell recounted the night Mamakwa was found dead in his cell, noting that his first major incident as a correctional officer was deeply impactful. Video footage showed officers responding to the scene, while Mamakwa's cellmate, Jamie DaCosta, reported a delayed response of 10 to 20 minutes after calling for help. The inquest has also highlighted the lack of mental health support, as Mamakwa was reportedly struggling with drug withdrawal and had expressed suicidal thoughts in a letter found after his death. To combat these issues, the Ontario government announced plans to hire over 700 correctional staff by 2026. However, Bell stressed that without substantial renovations to the jail, conditions will remain inadequate for inmate treatment, describing the current approach as 'throwing Band-aids on bullet holes.'