The number of prisoners in solitary confinement fell last year, but Canada's correctional investigator, Howard Sapers, says changes to the policy are needed. We see a long shot of a prison block with the sun shining in a window at the far end. Prison cells line each side of the main walkway.

The number of prisoners in solitary confinement fell last year, but Canada's correctional investigator, Howard Sapers, says changes to the policy are needed.
Photo Credit: cbc.ca

Top official wants solitary confinement rules amended

Canada’s correctional investigator says he is “very concerned” about the circumstances surrounding two recent prison suicides and is calling for tighter legal restrictions and greater oversight in solitary confinement, also known as administrative segregation, units.

“Simply leaving it to the Correctional Service of Canada within the existing legal and policy framework is not producing an adequate response,” Howard Sapers told CBC News.

Sapers listed a number of measures he wants instituted:

-Legislated hard caps on the length of time someone can spend in segregation.
-A prohibition against the use of segregation for vulnerable persons, including those with known mental issues or a history of self-harm or injury.
-More accountability and oversight, including an external review of continued segregation placements.

Many advocates and critics are calling from the complete elimination of solitary confinement in Canada.

In 2015, the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association and a prisoners’ rights group, the John Howard Society, filed a constitutional challenge against segregation, contending that it constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.

A total of 454 prisoners were in administrative segregation at the end of last year, a decrease of 34 per cent from the 691 in March, 2015.

With CBC files.

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