The Canadian Press
TORONTO–Ontario’s adviser on corrections is urging what he calls profound changes to segregation practices, but isn’t calling for an end to it entirely.
Howard Sapers, the former federal correctional investigator, was appointed by Ontario last year and released a report yesterday with 63 recommendations.
He said segregation never should be a default response to issues in jail, but that is what it has become.
Sapers noted last year more than 1,300 people–most of them awaiting trial–spent 60 or more days in segregation, including five who had been isolated for more than three years.
He said despite the government revising segregation policies in 2015, including for mentally-ill inmates, the proportion of that population in segregation actually has increased.
Sapers added the legal framework around segregation is skeletal and needs to be strengthened, including an end to indefinite segregation.
But he also conceded the reality is some form of seclusion is necessary.
