The hunt continues for Carla Robertson, an Alberta woman who slipped through the cracks of the Canadian correctional system nearly 24 days ago when she was mistakenly released from the Edmonton Institution for Women. Robertson, serving a 7-year sentence for armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, disappeared into the city on April 28th after what officials are calling “a catastrophic administrative error.”
I’ve spent the past week reviewing internal documents and interviewing corrections officials about how such a mistake could happen in a maximum-security facility. According to Sam Burnett, spokesperson for Correctional Service Canada (CSC), the error occurred during a shift change when Robertson’s file was confused with that of another inmate scheduled for release.
“We have strict protocols for inmate releases that include multiple verification steps,” Burnett told me. “In this case, those protocols were not followed correctly by multiple staff members.”
The documents I obtained through an access to information request reveal a troubling series of oversights. Robertson’s identification was verified against the wrong paperwork, her biometric data wasn’t properly checked, and a final security verification was skipped entirely when a senior officer was called away for an emergency in another part of the facility.
Staff Sergeant Andrea Morris of the RCMP’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit explained their ongoing efforts to locate Robertson. “We’re working with local law enforcement across Alberta and neighboring provinces. Robertson has family connections in Saskatchewan and British Columbia that we’re monitoring closely.”
This incident has raised serious questions about security protocols at federal correctional facilities. Dr. Elena Vasquez, criminologist at the University of Alberta, points to systemic issues within Canada’s prison administration.
“What’s particularly concerning is that this isn’t an isolated incident,” Vasquez explained when I interviewed her yesterday. “CSC has experienced at least seven improper releases across Canada in the past decade, though most inmates were quickly recaptured.”
Robertson’s criminal history makes her disappearance particularly concerning. Court records show a pattern of escalating violence in her crimes, and she was denied parole twice due to what the board called “unaddressed anger management issues and poor impulse control.”
I spoke with Jason Chen, Robertson’s former defense attorney, who expressed surprise at the administrative failure. “The Edmonton Institution is supposed to be one of our more secure facilities. This level of mistake suggests fundamental flaws in how information is managed and verified.”
The escape has triggered a comprehensive review of release procedures across all federal institutions. Internal emails I reviewed show that Correctional Service Canada has already implemented emergency protocols requiring dual supervisor sign-off for all inmate releases pending completion of the investigation.
For residents in the Edmonton area, the situation remains tense. Local police have increased patrols in neighborhoods where Robertson previously lived and around her known associates’ residences. They’ve advised the public not to approach her if spotted, as she should be considered dangerous.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a corrections officer at the Edmonton Institution revealed that morale has plummeted since the incident. “Everyone’s looking over their shoulders, waiting for the axe to fall. Three staff members have been placed on administrative leave, but we all know the problems go beyond individual mistakes.”
The incident has caught the attention of federal lawmakers. Minister of Public Safety Mark Williams issued a statement calling the situation “completely unacceptable” and promising “a thorough review of procedures and accountability measures across all federal corrections facilities.”
Civil liberties groups have also weighed in on the case. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association pointed out that while this incident involves a dangerous offender, mistaken releases can go both ways. “We’ve documented cases where people are wrongfully detained beyond their sentences due to similar administrative errors,” said Patricia Wong, CCLA spokesperson.
For the victims of Robertson’s crimes, the escape has reopened old wounds. “I finally felt safe knowing she was locked up,” said one victim who asked not to be named. “Now I’m looking over my shoulder again, wondering if she’ll come looking for revenge.”
As the manhunt enters its fourth week, the RCMP has expanded its search parameters and increased the priority level of the case. Digital billboards across western Canada now display Robertson’s image, and a dedicated tip line has been established.
The incident raises important questions about resource allocation and attention to detail in our prison system. With correctional facilities often understaffed and officers overworked, the conditions for such errors become more likely. Yet the public expects—and deserves—a correctional system that can reliably perform its most basic function: keeping dangerous offenders securely detained until they’ve served their sentences.
As this investigation continues, one thing remains clear: beyond the hunt for a single escaped inmate lies a deeper need to examine the systems and processes that allowed such a failure to occur in the first place.
