2018 data on inmates in Ontario
Get 2018 data on inmate segregation, restrictive confinement and deaths in correctional facilities.
Review of inmates with possible mental health conditions who were in segregation on June 5, 2018
The review identified all individuals with possible mental health condition in segregation on June 5, 2018 at six institutions identified by the OHRC. These institutions were:
- Central East Correctional Centre
- Kenora Jail
- Niagara Detention Centre
- North Bay Jail
- Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre
- Vanier Centre for Women
On that day, 248 inmates were identified as being in segregation at the six identified institutions. Inmates included in this sample were those housed in specific cells or units defined as segregation according to ministry policy on June 5, 2018. Inmates housed in other types of specialized units including special needs units, special handling units, mental health units, or behavioural units, were not classified as being in segregation. One inmate captured in this review identified as transgender and removed from the sample for privacy reasons.
Of the 248 segregated inmates, 219 (88%) were identified as having possible mental health conditions, at risk of self-harming or suicidal behaviour. The criteria for identification of inmates for this sample included a combination of:
- a mental health or suicidal behaviour alert
- results of the ministry’s standard mental health screening and assessment tools
- information that was reported and confirmed by a healthcare professional
These 219 inmates’ files were individually reviewed to determine if and when a variety of required processes occurred, including:
- initial mental health screening upon admission
- further assessment when indicated by the initial screening tool
- reassessment for mental health within six months of admission to custody
- baseline and ongoing five-day health assessments by a physician or psychiatrist upon placement in segregation
For individuals who screened positive for possible mental health issues through the mental health screening and assessment tools, the file review also considered whether and when:
- a physician assessed the inmate to determine if a referral to a psychiatrist was necessary
- a referral to a psychiatrist or other mental health care professional was made, when deemed necessary by a physician
- the inmate was seen by the psychiatrist or other mental health care professional where referred
- a treatment plan was developed
Finally, the review examined whether segregation reviews and reports were appropriately completed, including:
- the completion of five-day and 30-day segregation reviews, including the documentation of:
- alternatives considered and rejected
- whether a treatment plan was in place
- whether 30-day segregation reports were prepared and received by the minister, and if the reports documented:
- alternatives that were considered and rejected
- whether a treatment plan was in place
- whether the individual had a mental illness
- whether a 60-day aggregate segregation report was prepared and received by the assistant deputy minister of institutional services, and if these reports documented whether an individual had a mental illness
Population breakdown
| Facility | Female population | Male Population | Female Inmates | Male Inmates | Total inmates included in review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central East Detention Centre | 47 | 883 | 5 | 91 | 96 |
| Kenora Jail | 32 | 151 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Niagara Detention Centre | 0 | 182 | 0 | 24 | 24 |
| North Bay Jail | 11 | 58 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre | 42 | 371 | 3 | 60 | 63 |
| Vanier Centre for Women | 178 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 26 |
| Grand total | 310 | 1,645 | 38 | 181 | 219 |
| Status | Number of female inmates | Number of male inmates | Total number of inmates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remand | 37 | 154 | 191 |
| Sentenced | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Immigration hold | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Other | 1 | 12 | 13 |
| Grand total | 38 | 181 | 219 |
Of the 219 inmates included in the review, 38 identified as female and 181 as male. Upon admission, 37 women and 154 men were being held on remand, eight men were admitted to serve a sentence and seven men were admitted with an immigration hold. Twelve men and one woman were admitted for other reasons such as violating parole.
There were 39 inmates (18%) included in the review who had been segregated for less than five days, 102 inmates (47%) who had been segregated between five to 29 days and 78 inmates (35%) had been segregated for 30 days or more.
Mental health screening and assessments
Brief Jail Mental Health Screening tool
Ministry policy requires that initial mental health screening, which is completed by a nurse using the Brief Jail Mental Health Screening (BJMHS) tool, be conducted within 48 hours of an inmate being admitted to an institution. This tool is used to identify inmates with a possible mental illness. Individuals identified as having a possible mental illness receive a further in-depth assessment.
Of the 219 inmates covered in the review, 193 inmates (88%) were administered the BJMHS. For the 26 inmates (12%) who did not have the BJMHS screening:
- the screening tool was not completed for 17 inmates with no reason indicated
- the screening tool was not completed for six inmates as the inmate declined or was unable to participate
- the screening tool was not completed for two inmates, but had one on file from a previous admission
- the inmate was released prior to the screening being completed, in one case
Of the 193 inmates who received the BJMHS, 176 inmates (92%) had the assessment completed within 48 hours of admission and 17 inmates (8%) were completed beyond 48 hours.
Jail Screening Assessment Tool (JSAT)
If a result on the initial screening tool indicates a mental health concern, ministry policy requires that a more comprehensive assessment, the JSAT, be administered. If a JSAT was administered during a previous admission to custody, the prior assessment can be relied upon. Ministry policy also requires that the inmate receive a JSAT assessment within 72 hours of the BJMHS. This assessment is completed by a mental health nurse, social worker or other trained mental healthcare professional to determine, based on the results of the assessment and their professional judgement, whether an inmate has a possible mental health condition.
Following the initial screening of 193 inmates through the BJMHS, 124 (64%) required further assessment using the JSAT and 91 inmates (73%) of those requiring further assessment were assessed using the tool. Of the 33 inmates (27%) who did not receive the JSAT assessment:
- the assessment tool was not completed for 13 inmates because the inmate declined or unable to participate
- the assessment tool was not completed for three inmates because they were released prior to completion of the assessment
- the assessment tool was not completed in two cases because they were already followed by a psychiatrist and were receiving mental health services
- the assessment tool was not completed in 15 cases, with no reason provided on file
Outside of the screening process, an additional 10 inmates received a JSAT for a total of 101 inmates assessed. Of the 101 inmates who were assessed, 36 (36%) had the assessment completed within 72 hours and 60 (59%) were completed outside of 72 hours. Five inmates (5%) had an assessment completed during a previous admission to custody.
Referrals to physicians and psychiatrists
The review also examined whether inmates who screened positive for mental health conditions through the JSAT were subsequently referred to a psychiatrist, and if the inmate was seen by a psychiatrist after being referred. Some inmates were seen by a psychiatrist or other mental health professional outside of the screening process if they showed symptoms or had a history of a mental health condition. As a result, a total of 156 inmates were seen by a psychiatrist or other mental health or healthcare professional. There were 150 inmates seen by the professional to whom they were referred, and six were seen by another mental health or healthcare professional.
Of the 101 inmates who were assessed using the JSAT, 66 inmates (65%) were referred to a physician as a result of the JSAT. Of the 66 inmates referred to a physician, 48 (73%) were further referred to a psychiatrist for additional assessment.
In cases where a psychiatrist is unavailable, inmates may be seen by clinical staff or a mental health provider such as a psychologist, mental health nurse, social worker, or psychometrist. However, consultations with a psychiatrist still occur as soon as possible, and are based on urgency.
Mental health reassessment
The review examined whether and when inmates were reassessed using the BJMHS and JSAT mental health screening tools the ministry uses when an inmate is admitted to a correctional institution. These tools, however, are not designed for reassessment purposes. As a result, the inmates identified as part of the review were not reassessed using these tools. However, the review captured that of 219 inmates, 39 (18%) were released before six months and 178 (81%) were reassessed within six months of admission. Two inmates (1%) did not have any information on file pertaining to a formal reassessment.
Inmates with identified mental health conditions are followed by mental health providers and seen on a regular basis. However, in general, inmates who are not identified as having a mental health care need through the BJMHS and JSAT screening are not being reassessed for mental health issues at regular intervals. For these inmates, reassessments occur when a member of the mental health care team is made aware that:
- an inmate has shown significant behavioural change
- there are health or medication changes
- a reassessment has been court ordered
The ministry has implemented a new healthcare policy for reassessing inmates within six months of admission. This policy and a newly developed tool was rolled out at all institutions on July 31, 2018 and will be reviewed for compliance in March 2019.
Ministry policy requires that all inmates in segregation be seen daily by healthcare staff. All inmates with a mental illness who are placed in segregation must also be regularly assessed by a mental health care provider.
Treatment and care plans
The point in time review tracked whether a treatment plan was developed by a physician or psychiatrist for inmates who were screened using the JSAT. A treatment plan may address any physical or mental health concerns and may include medical strategies, ongoing services and treatment goals for a patient. Where appropriate, a treatment plan is developed with other mental health providers and clinical staff.
| Was a treatment plan developed? | Number of female inmates | Number of male inmates | Total number of inmates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes, developed following referral to mental health professional | 29 | 59 | 88 |
| Existing treatment plan already in place | 4 | 108 | 112 |
| Not developed or required | 5 | 14 | 19 |
| Total number of inmates | 38 | 181 | 219 |
Of the 219 inmates covered in this review, 88 (40%) had a treatment plan developed following consultation with a mental health professional. One hundred and twelve inmates (51%), for a total of 200 inmates (91%), already had treatment plans developed or on file from a previous admission.
To guide goals of care and support inmates’ needs, including health concerns, care plans may also be developed for an inmate. Care plans are collaboratively written documents developed by a professional team including a combination of:
- correctional staff
- program staff
- mental health providers
- Indigenous inmate liaison officers
- social workers
- community outreach workers
| Does the inmate have a care plan noted in the segregation review forms? | Number of female inmates | Number of male inmates | Total number of inmates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 21 | 122 | 143 |
| No | 17 | 59 | 76 |
| Total number of inmates | 38 | 181 | 219 |
Care plans may deal with a number of behavioural issues or inmate needs that may or may not relate to an underlying mental illness or condition. Of the 219 inmates covered in the review, a total of 143 inmates (65%) had care plans.
The ministry recognizes the challenges of using multiple plans to address an individual’s mental and physical health needs. While it is important to share information, personal health information is considered confidential and subject to privacy policies. To balance the privacy rights of individuals and the importance of sharing critical information with all staff providing oversight and care, the ministry is examining options for a more comprehensive, multidisciplinary care plan with the goal of enhancing information sharing while supporting approaches to treatment. This will be in consultation with mental health professionals, the OHRC, community stakeholders and the Independent Expert on Human Rights and Corrections.
Baseline health assessments
When an inmate with a mental health condition is placed into segregation, a physician must offer the inmate a baseline health assessment. For inmates with major mental illness, this baseline assessment must be provided by a psychiatrist. Ministry policy requires that physicians or psychiatrists conduct this baseline assessment as soon as possible upon admission to segregation, in order to evaluate the treatment and care requirements of an inmate.
Inmates are to be reassessed by a physician or psychiatrist every five days following their original assessment. After an inmate is in segregation for five consecutive days, and prior to each subsequent five-day review of an inmate’s placement, ministry policy requires that a physician or psychiatrist complete a reassessment to determine if any changes are required to an inmate’s treatment plan.
In practice, due to the limited availability of physicians and psychiatrists, many facilities use other healthcare professionals, such as registered nurses or nurse practitioners, to perform the initial in-person assessments. Initial health assessments were completed by a physician or psychiatrist as required in 122 cases.
| Was a baseline health assessment by a physician or psychiatrist conducted within five days of admittance to segregation? | Number of female inmates | Number of male inmates | Total number of inmates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inmate released from segregation prior to five days | 4 | 13 | 17 |
| Yes, by physician | 21 | 74 | 95 |
| Yes, by psychiatrist | 10 | 17 | 27 |
| Yes, by registered nurse practitioner | n/a | 4 | 4 |
| Yes, by other healthcare professional | 3 | 43 | 46 |
| Not completed but required | n/a | 30 | 30 |
| Total number of inmates | 38 | 181 | 219 |
Results of the review show that subsequent five-day reassessments were routinely done by a healthcare professional other than a physician or psychiatrist. Health reassessments were completed by a physician or psychiatrist as required in 69 cases.
| Were subsequent five-day health re-assessments by a physician or psychiatrist conducted where required? | Number of female inmates | Number of male inmates | Total number of inmates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inmate released before required | 6 | 28 | 34 |
| Yes, by physician | 6 | 28 | 34 |
| Yes, by psychiatrist | 18 | 17 | 35 |
| Yes, by other healthcare professional | 6 | 71 | 77 |
| Re-assessed outside of five-day period | n/a | 7 | 7 |
| Not completed but required | 2 | 30 | 32 |
| Total number of inmates | 38 | 181 | 219 |
Consideration of alternatives to segregation
Ministry policy states that segregation may only be considered if an inmate:
- is in need of protection
- has requested to be segregated
- poses a security or safety risk to others
- is under medical observation or isolation
- has committed alleged misconduct
- requires confinement following misconduct
As part of the review, correctional institutions were required to report whether alternatives were considered to the point of undue hardship prior to an inmate being segregated. Ministry policy requires that inmates who continue to be detained in segregation are subject to further case reviews, and alternatives to segregation must be considered to the point of undue hardship.
This point-in-time review relied on manual compilation of information in paper files, which did not allow for a detailed analysis of whether there was any undue hardship in each case. The information documented in the paper files is not an exhaustive list of all alternatives considered, and may not provide reasons as to why certain alternatives were not considered. The ministry is working closely with the OHRC and the Independent Expert on Human Rights and Corrections to improve segregation tracking, reporting and undue hardship analysis.
Completion of required segregation reviews
Ministry policy requires that inmates placed in segregation be reviewed within 24 hours and every five days thereafter. These reviews are completed by an operational manager, typically a sergeant designated to a segregation unit. Inmates who have been in segregation for 30 days or more must have their placement reviewed by the superintendent and the regional director in order for the inmate to continue in segregation. Treatment plans and alternatives to segregation considered to the point of undue hardship must be documented as part of the review process.
Alternatives to segregation may include:
- adjusted care plan or treatment plan
- transfer to other general population or protective custody unit (within the institution)
- transfer to specialized housing unit (within the institution)
- transfer to other institution
- other options as available at specific institutions
Initial segregation placement and 24-hour review
Out of the 219 inmates covered in the review, all were reviewed within 24 hours and alternatives were considered within 24 hours of placement for 125 inmates (58%). In 93 cases (42%), alternatives to segregation were not reported as being considered within 24 hours of placement.
The review shows that alternatives were not consistently reported as having been considered prior to an inmate’s initial segregation placement. If an inmate’s placement in segregation was a result of a significant disturbance, serious or violent misconduct, or recommended by a healthcare professional, the review results suggest that staff frequently determined that there were no immediate alternative options before authorizing the initial segregation placement.
Initial and second five-day reviews
Out of the 180 inmates who were in segregation for five or more days, all but one had their required initial five-day review completed. Of the 179 completed reviews, 124 cases (69%) indicated that the facility had considered alternatives to segregation at the review point.
Of the 148 inmates who were in segregation for 10 or more days, all but four inmates had their required second five-day review completed. Of the 144 completed reviews, 118 cases (82%) indicated that the facility had considered alternatives to segregation at the review point.
Similar to the initial segregation review, alternatives to segregation may not have been considered at the initial and second five-day reviews for reasons including:
- inmate being segregated as a result of a significant disturbance
- inmate involved in serious or violent misconduct
- recommended by a healthcare professional to remain in segregation
Thirty-day reviews
Out of the 78 inmates who were segregated for 30 days or more, all had their required 30-day reviews completed. Of the 78 completed reviews, 71 cases (91%) indicated that the facility had considered alternatives to segregation at the review point. Six of the remaining reviews indicated that alternatives were not considered, but the data revealed that the inmate was segregated at the direction of medical or psychiatric staff. One review did not report whether alternatives were considered.
Thirty-day and 60-day segregation reports
Each month, reports are generated at the institutional and regional levels that document the inmates who have been in segregation for more than 30 continuous days. These reports include:
- whether an inmate has a mental health alert
- a list of alternatives to segregation considered for each inmate
- whether each inmate has a treatment plan in place
Inmates who have been in segregation for a combined total of more than 60 aggregate days within the last year are also included in a separate monthly report to the assistant deputy minister of institutional services. These reports did not document the individualized level of detail included in the institutional and regional segregation reports.
As of February 15, 2018, reports of inmates in segregation for 30 continuous days that are provided directly to the assistant deputy minister, the deputy minister, and the minister include additional details about the circumstances of each individual’s segregation placement and the alternatives to segregation considered. This level of detail also applies to the 60-day aggregate reports that are provided to the assistant deputy minister of institutional services.
There were 78 inmates who met the criteria for inclusion in the 30-day continuous and 115 inmates met the criteria for inclusion in the 60-day aggregate reports. These compiled reports were provided to the assistant deputy minister, the deputy minister and the minister, as well as included the required data on mental health alerts and alternatives.
Human-rights based data collection for inmates in segregation
Effective October 31, 2018, the ministry is required to publicly release data annually, regarding its use of segregation for all individuals in Ontario’s correctional system (excluding those on lockdown) and to include the following in the report:
- duration of time each inmate spent in segregation, including continuous days and total days over the last 365 days
- reason the inmate was placed in segregation
- number of inmates who had a suicide alert or suicide watch alert placed by clinical staff
Furthermore, the ministry is required to disaggregate the data based on:
- those with mental health disabilities (including risk of suicide or self-harm) whether identified through mental health alerts, mental health screening and reassessment, or by being reported and confirmed
- sex/gender
- facility
- region
The definition of segregation in the ministry’s policy was revised as of July 6, 2018. Prior to this date, segregation was defined as a specific area within an institution. The previous definition did not include a minimum requirement for time out of cell. As of July 6, 2018, the definition of segregation was revised to include any inmate who is physically isolated and confined anywhere in an institution for 22 hours or more per day.
Upon consultation with both the Independent Expert and the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), the ministry is reporting its initial human rights-based data by collecting and releasing data for inmates in segregation between April 1 and May 31, 2018. This is to capture segregation placements prior to the July 6, 2018 policy change. This will ensure that the data is consistent with the previous definition of segregation, rather than including a mix of segregation placements under the old and new definitions. All subsequent releases of data will cover the yearlong timeframe required by the OHRC.
At the advice of the Independent Expert, this data release will be disaggregated on additional data related to the Ontario Human Rights Code, including gender, race, age, religion and disability. The ministry will report on race and religion in a manner consistent with the requirements set out in the anti-racism data standards under Ontario's Anti-Racism Act. These standards were designed to allow for the monitoring of systemic racism.
Disclosure on data collection method
To collect the information required, a report was generated through the ministry’s Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) to capture any inmates identified in the system as being in segregation between April 1 and May 31, 2018. Institutional housing locations in OTIS were updated in April 2018, resulting in more accurate identification of areas that could potentially meet conditions similar to segregation.
OTIS is an electronic database used to track those under the supervision of the ministry and includes demographic, institutional housing and placement history. This information is entered into OTIS manually and, due to technology limitations, may be recorded through other means and transferred into OTIS at a later time.
The report generated through OTIS identified all individuals with a segregation placement within the identified time period. For these inmates, the report captured:
- the number of placements
- the duration of placements
- reasons for placements
- demographic information
- alerts for mental health concerns, suicide risk and suicide watch
The number and duration of placements are tracked through a screen in OTIS, which also captures the reasons for placement in segregation. The system does not allow placements to be tracked by hours. As a result, where an inmate was recorded as having a placement of less than one day, the time has been reported as one day.
Prior to the current electronic method, institutions submitted manual forms on a nightly basis. These forms allowed for multiple reasons for admission to segregation to be selected with no hierarchy for the reasons. The time period for this data set overlaps the manual and electronic tracking of segregation. This means that inmates whose placement in segregation began prior to April 2018, may have multiple reasons for admission that are unable to be separated out at this time. The ministry recognizes this change in the data collection process has limited the ability to provide a meaningful analysis for this review.
Demographic information entered into OTIS is largely self-reported by the inmate or is reliant on information provided to the ministry by police agencies or by the courts and therefore may change over time. OTIS displays the most recent details for an inmate and maintains a record of information previously entered into the system. The report generated for this release captured demographic information that was active at the time that the data was pulled.
OTIS currently captures inmates’ gender as a binary male or female entry. Additional expressions of gender are captured in a “transgender alert”, in a separate screen in OTIS. Where an inmate has a transgender alert, the gender field in OTIS will reflect the inmate’s preferred gender and may change over time. The gender information released in this report is not reflective of non-cisgender inmates. The ministry is in the process of updating OTIS to better reflect gender expression and identity.
At the time of this review, the identification of inmates with mental health conditions was only possible through a review of each individual inmate’s healthcare file. The results of the mental health screening tools and any confirmation of a self-reported mental health condition were stored in hard copy files and a full file review was not feasible given the number of inmates that are included in this review. As a result, the ministry identified inmates with mental health conditions using any mental health alerts or suicide risk alerts that are recorded in OTIS.
The ministry acknowledges that this is a limited approach to identifying inmates with mental health conditions as mental health alerts are inconsistently managed across all institutions. The process for adding or removing a mental health alert in OTIS varies among facilities. As a result, the data for this release includes current and previous mental health alerts, both verified and unverified. The mental health, suicide risk and suicide watch alerts were recorded as of the time the data was collected, as individuals may have had an alert created after the period of placement in segregation related to that placement. This allowed the ministry to capture those with possible mental health concerns.
The identification of individuals experiencing mental health concerns is further complicated as the ministry’s policy does not have a fulsome definition of what is considered a mental illness or mental health concern. By December 31, 2018, the ministry will address the issue of inconsistencies in mental health alerts by implementing a policy that requires all mental health alerts to be verified by a mental health professional in a manner that is consistent across all institutions. The ministry is currently in the process of developing consistent definitions of mental illness, disability and impairment to better align with definitions used by community health services by spring 2019.
Review of all inmates in segregation between April 1, 2018 and May 31, 2018
There were 3,086 inmates identified as being in segregation between April 1, 2018 and May 31, 2018, out of a total population of 13,512 (23%). In total, there were 3,998 segregation placements during this time period. This excludes inmates with an intermittent sentence, who will be reported on below, and those in other specialized units that may entail restrictive conditions of confinement.
Population breakdown
| Location | Female inmates | Female placements | Male inmates | Male placements | Total inmates | Total placements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maplehurst Correctional Complex | n/a | n/a | 441 | 577 | 441 | 577 |
| Toronto East Detention Centre | n/a | n/a | 226 | 276 | 226 | 276 |
| Toronto South Detention Centre | 1 | 1 | 245 | 298 | 246 | 299 |
| Vanier Centre for Women | 187 | 245 | 1 | 1 | 188 | 246 |
| Central Region | 188 | 246 | 913 | 1,152 | 1,101 | 1,398 |
| Brockville Jail | n/a | n/a | 26 | 28 | 26 | 28 |
| Central East Correctional Centre | 21 | 27 | 234 | 304 | 255 | 331 |
| Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre | 19 | 19 | 261 | 333 | 280 | 352 |
| Quinte Detention Centre | 9 | 10 | 155 | 223 | 164 | 233 |
| St. Lawrence Valley Centre | n/a | n/a | 19 | 28 | 19 | 28 |
| Eastern Region | 49 | 56 | 695 | 916 | 744 | 972 |
| Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre | 10 | 15 | 64 | 82 | 74 | 97 |
| Central North Correctional Centre | 9 | 9 | 243 | 320 | 252 | 329 |
| Fort Frances Jail | n/a | n/a | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Kenora Jail | 26 | 31 | 29 | 34 | 55 | 65 |
| Monteith Correctional Centre | 9 | 17 | 50 | 80 | 59 | 97 |
| North Bay Jail | 10 | 17 | 50 | 81 | 60 | 98 |
| Sudbury Jail | n/a | n/a | 63 | 85 | 63 | 85 |
| Thunder Bay Correctional Centre | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 24 | 24 |
| Thunder Bay Jail | n/a | n/a | 16 | 20 | 16 | 20 |
| Northern Region | 75 | 100 | 536 | 723 | 611 | 823 |
| Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre | 28 | 37 | 149 | 191 | 177 | 228 |
| Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre | 28 | 32 | 130 | 166 | 158 | 198 |
| Niagara Detention Centre | 1 | 1 | 113 | 144 | 114 | 145 |
| Sarnia Jail | 5 | 6 | 44 | 58 | 49 | 64 |
| Southwest Detention Centre | 10 | 12 | 104 | 138 | 114 | 150 |
| Stratford Jail | n/a | n/a | 18 | 20 | 18 | 20 |
| Western Region | 72 | 88 | 558 | 717 | 630 | 805 |
| Total number of inmates | 384 | n/a | 2,702 | n/a | 3,086 | n/a |
| Total | n/a | 490 | n/a | 3,508 | n/a | 3,998 |
Of the 1,678 inmates included in the review, 96 identified as female and 1,582 identified as male. These numbers include 17 inmates who self-identified as transgender during this period.
Age
| Age ranges and gender | Central Region | Eastern Region | Northern Region | Western Region | Total number of inmates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 to 24 years old women | 37 | 9 | 18 | 13 | 77 |
| 18 to 24 years old men | 240 | 127 | 126 | 108 | 601 |
| Total 18 to 24 years old | 277 | 136 | 144 | 121 | 678 |
| 25 to 49 year old women | 140 | 34 | 54 | 57 | 285 |
| 25 to 49 year old men | 597 | 499 | 378 | 408 | 1,882 |
| Total 25 to 49 years old | 737 | 533 | 432 | 465 | 2,167 |
| 50 years or older women | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 22 |
| 50 years or older men | 76 | 69 | 32 | 42 | 219 |
| Total 50 years or older | 87 | 75 | 35 | 44 | 241 |
| Total number of inmates | 1,101 | 744 | 611 | 630 | 3,086 |
Of the 3,086 inmates included in the review, 384 identified as women and 2,702 identified as men. These numbers include 23 inmates who self-identified as transgender during this period. The average age amongst all inmates at the start of their placement in segregation was 33 years old, where the youngest was 18 and the eldest was 84. Specific to women, the average age was 32 years old, where the youngest was 18 and the eldest was 65. The average age of men in custody was 33 years old, with the youngest inmate being 18 and the eldest being 84.
Race and religion
| Race | Central Region | Eastern Region | Northern Region | Western Region | Total number of inmates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 509 | 489 | 354 | 448 | 1,800 |
| Black | 279 | 92 | 24 | 44 | 439 |
| Indigenous | 66 | 64 | 175 | 78 | 383 |
| Middle Eastern | 19 | 22 | 4 | 7 | 52 |
| Other race category | 26 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 47 |
| East or southeast Asian | 28 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 45 |
| South Asian | 32 | 6 | 1 | n/a | 39 |
| Latino or Hispanic | 14 | 2 | n/a | 6 | 22 |
| Unknown or not reported | 128 | 46 | 48 | 37 | 259 |
| Total number of inmates | 1,101 | 744 | 611 | 630 | 3,086 |
Of the 3,086 inmates covered in the review, 1,800 (58%) self-identified as white, 439 (14%) self-identified as black, and 383 (12%) self-identified as Indigenous. Fifty-two inmates (2%) identified as Middle Eastern, 47 (2%) as another race category, 45 (2%) as east or Southeast Asian, 39 (1%) identified as South Asian and 22 (1%) as Latino or Hispanic. Two hundred and fifty-nine inmates (8%) did not report this information or it was unknown.
| Religion or spiritual affiliation | Central Region | Eastern Region | Northern Region | Western Region | Total number of inmates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian | 255 | 246 | 188 | 193 | 882 |
| No religion | 145 | 179 | 141 | 113 | 578 |
| Muslim | 113 | 84 | 11 | 22 | 230 |
| Indigenous spirituality | 48 | 44 | 55 | 50 | 197 |
| Atheist | 40 | 20 | 21 | 42 | 123 |
| Rastafarian | 22 | 3 | 1 | n/a | 26 |
| Sikh | 16 | n/a | 2 | n/a | 18 |
| Hindu | 12 | 3 | n/a | 1 | 16 |
| Judaism | 5 | 3 | n/a | 1 | 9 |
| Other religious or spiritual affiliation | 16 | 14 | 6 | 12 | 48 |
| Unknown or not reported | 429 | 148 | 186 | 196 | 959 |
| Total number of inmates | 1,101 | 744 | 611 | 630 | 3,086 |
There were 959 inmates (31%) covered in the review who did not report a religious or spiritual affiliation or it was unknown, while 882 (28%) self-identified as being Christian, and 587 (19%) stated they had no religious or spiritual affiliation. Two hundred thirty (8%) self-identified as Muslim, 197 (6%) self-identified as having Indigenous spirituality and 123 (4%) stated they were atheist. Of the remaining inmates, the breakdown of the religions they self-identified as included: 26 (0.8%) Rastafarian, 18 (0.5%) Sikh, 16 (0.5%) Hindu and nine (0.2%) Jewish. There were 48 inmates (2%) who reported they had another religious or spiritual affiliation.
Number of Placements
| Number of times placed in segregation | Women | Men | Total number of inmates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 309 | 2,113 | 2,422 |
| 2 | 51 | 423 | 474 |
| 3 | 19 | 127 | 146 |
| 4 | 4 | 29 | 33 |
| 5 | n/a | 8 | 8 |
| 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Total number of inmates | 384 | 2,702 | 3,086 |
There were 2,422 inmates (79%) with a single segregation admission during the time period, while 664 (21%) had been placed in segregation two or more times.
Duration of time spent in segregation
| Location | Maximum number of days - females | Median (days) - females | Mode (days) - females | Maximum number of days - males | Median (days) - males | Mode (days) - males | Median (days) - overall | Mode (days) - overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maplehurst Correctional Complex | n/a | n/a | n/a | 299 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Toronto East Detention Centre | n/a | n/a | n/a | 180 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Toronto South Detention Centre | 13 | 13 | 13 | 304 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 4 |
| Vanier Centre For Women | 405 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Central Region | 405 | 3 | 1 | 304 | 5 | 5 | 1 | |
| Brockville Jail | n/a | n/a | n/a | 113 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 2 |
| Central East Correctional Centre | 143 | 4 | 2 | 598 | 11 | 2 | 10 | 2 |
| Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre | 14 | 7 | 7 | 469 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Quinte Detention Centre | 9 | 2 | 1 | 593 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| St. Lawrence Valley Centre | n/a | n/a | n/a | 102 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Eastern Region | 143 | 4 | 2 | 598 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Algoma Treatment And Remand Centre | 25 | 3 | 3 | 131 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Central North Correctional Centre | 5 | 4 | 5 | 365 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Fort Frances Jail | n/a | n/a | n/a | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Kenora Jail | 16 | 3 | 1 | 64 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Monteith Correctional Centre | 17 | 3 | 2 | 59 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| North Bay Jail | 34 | 5 | 1 | 111 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Sudbury Jail | n/a | n/a | n/a | 279 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Thunder Bay Correctional Centre | 7 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Thunder Bay Jail | n/a | n/a | n/a | 117 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Northern Region | 34 | 3 | 1 | 365 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre | 22 | 2 | 2 | 84 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre | 27 | 2 | 1 | 152 | 4.5 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Niagara Detention Centre | 3 | 3 | 3 | 231 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Sarnia Jail | 8 | 5 | 7 | 44 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| South West Detention Centre | 14 | 2 | 1 | 197 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Stratford Jail | n/a | n/a | n/a | 97 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Western Region | 27 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Overall | 405 | 3 | 1 | 598 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
Across all regions, the consecutive length of segregation placements for males ranged from a minimum of one day to a maximum of 598 days. Consecutive placement lengths for females ranged from one to 405 days. The median, or mid-point, number of days consecutively spent in segregation was three days for females and five days for males, with an overall median of five consecutive days. The most frequent, or mode, consecutive placement length was one day for all inmates. These placement lengths include time that was spent in segregation prior to April 1, 2018 if the placement continued into the April 1, 2018 to May 31, 2018 time period.
Ministry policy requires that inmates placed in segregation be reviewed within 24 hours, and every five days thereafter. Inmates who have been in segregation for 30 days or more must have their placement reviewed by the superintendent and the regional director in order for the inmate to continue in segregation. In the case of inmates with mental health conditions, alternatives may only be rejected if significant health and safety concerns would arise if they are placed outside of segregation. Although ministry policy requires that alternatives to segregation must be considered to the point of undue hardship as part of the review process, the ministry recognizes that institutions vary significantly in their resource capacity and approach to meet this high threshold of undue hardship according to the legal standard. In the absence of a standardized documentation procedure and clear protocol from the ministry, a meaningful analysis of segregation reviews has not been possible. In recognition of this limitation, the ministry is working with the OHRC and the Independent Expert on Human Rights and Corrections to improve segregation tracking, reporting and undue hardship analysis.
| Location | Maximum number of days - females | Median (days) - females | Mode (days) - females | Maximum number of days - males | Median (days) - males | Mode (days) - males | Median (days) - overall | Mode (days) - overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maplehurst Correctional Complex | n/a | n/a | n/a | 341 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 2 |
| Toronto East Detention Centre | n/a | n/a | n/a | 237 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Toronto South Detention Centre | 13 | 13 | 13 | 362 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 4 |
| Vanier Centre For Women | 365 | 3 | 2 | 365 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Central Region | 365 | 3.5 | 2 | 362 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Brockville Jail | n/a | n/a | n/a | 133 | 10.5 | 2 | 10.5 | 2 |
| Central East Correctional Centre | 193 | 4 | 4 | 365 | 18 | 2 | 16 | 2 |
| Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre | 14 | 7 | 7 | 365 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 4 |
| Quinte Detention Centre | 15 | 3 | 1 | 365 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| St. Lawrence Valley Centre | n/a | n/a | n/a | 78 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Eastern Region | 193 | 4 | 2 | 365 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 2 |
| Algoma Treatment And Remand Centre | 36 | 5.5 | 2 | 131 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Central North Correctional Centre | 12 | 4 | 5 | 365 | 16 | 5 | 15 | 5 |
| Fort Frances Jail | n/a | n/a | n/a | 27 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Kenora Jail | 57 | 2.5 | 1 | 69 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Monteith Correctional Centre | 65 | 4 | 2 | 109 | 3.5 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| North Bay Jail | 87 | 10.5 | 3 | 119 | 5.5 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Sudbury Jail | n/a | n/a | n/a | 340 | 11 | 2 | 11 | 2 |
| Thunder Bay Correctional Centre | 27 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Thunder Bay Jail | n/a | n/a | n/a | 178 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Northern Region | 87 | 3 | 1 | 365 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| Elgin-Middlesex Det. Centre | 43 | 4 | 2 | 175 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre | 27 | 2.5 | 1 | 169 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Niagara Detention Centre | 10 | 3 | 3 | 266 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 3 |
| Sarnia Jail | 15 | 3 | n/a | 44 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| South West Detention Centre | 55 | 2 | 1 | 252 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Stratford Jail | n/a | n/a | 47 | 4.5 | 1 | 4.5 | 1 | |
| Western Region | 55 | 3.5 | 2 | 266 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Overall | 365 | 4 | 2 | 365 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
Across all regions, the aggregate number of days for segregation placements of males and females ranged from a minimum of one day to a maximum 365 days. The overall median aggregate number of days was seven, and the most frequent aggregate number of days spent in segregation was one.
These totals are calculated from 365 days prior to an inmate’s most recent end date in segregation, or by May 31, 2018 if the inmate was still in segregation.
As of February 15, 2018, reports of inmates in segregation for 30 continuous days that are provided directly to the assistant deputy minister and the minister now include additional details about the circumstances of each individual’s segregation placement and the alternatives to segregation considered to the point of undue hardship. This level of detail also applies to the 60-day aggregate reports that go to the assistant deputy minister.
Reasons for placement in segregation
The ministry’s policy during this time period required that segregation only be considered for an inmate if they:
- are in need of protection such as security or medical concerns
- have requested to be segregated
- pose a security or safety risk to others
- are under medical observation or isolation
- have committed alleged misconduct
- require confinement following misconduct
| Reason | Total number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Inmate requires protection for medical concerns | 1,049 | 26% |
| Inmate requested to be segregated | 869 | 22% |
| Inmate committed alleged misconduct | 665 | 17% |
| Inmate poses a security or safety risk to others | 407 | 10% |
| Inmate requires protection for other concerns | 280 | 7% |
| Inmate requires confinement following misconduct | 60 | 2% |
| Inmate has multiple reasons for placement on file | 668 | 17% |
| Total | 3,998 | 100% |
The most frequent three reasons for segregation placement included: 1,049 (26%) instances where placements were a result of medical reasons such as observation, isolation and safety, a total of 869 (22%) inmates who requested to be placed in segregation, as well as 665 (17%) placements as a result of an alleged misconduct.
Mental health alerts
A mental health alert is recorded in an inmate’s file by staff including correctional, medical and clinical staff, if the inmate:
- discloses a history of a mental health disability
- is showing signs of, or has disclosed thoughts about self-harm or suicide
- is demonstrating behaviour that may suggest a mental illness
The ministry’s policy at the time required that all alerts be reviewed by the superintendent, healthcare coordinator or their designate, the area manager or community case manager. They were also responsible for updating a mental health alert status from active to inactive, as appropriate. Upon placement in segregation, 1,546 (50%) of the 3,086 inmates had a current or previous mental health alert on file.
Additionally, under the ministry’s policy, initial mental health screening is required to be completed within 48 hours of an inmate being admitted to an institution. If an inmate screens positive for a possible mental health condition, they are further assessed and may be referred to a psychiatrist or physician, if necessary. As of July 31, 2018, inmates are also reassessed for mental healthcare needs within six months of admission to the institution.
Suicide risk alerts
A suicide risk alert is recorded in an inmate’s file by facility staff including operational or healthcare staff when they require enhanced supervision or if they are at risk of posing harm to themselves. Suicide risk alerts are broken down into the following categories:
- enhanced supervision
- previous suicide attempt(s)
- on suicide watch
Of the 3,086 inmates covered in the review, 1,247 (40%) had a suicide risk alert recorded in their file.
A suicide watch is a subset of a suicide risk alert and indicates an active period of time when an inmate requires increased supervision due to a high risk of suicide or self-harm. Of the inmates included in the review, 591 (19%) were on suicide watch while in segregation. Ministry policy requires that an assessment, monitoring and documenting process including frequent in-person checks, occur at least once every 10 minutes. Every hour between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., correctional staff also conduct hourly verbal interactions with the inmate.
Intermittent sentences
When the court imposes a sentence of imprisonment of 90 days or less on an offender convicted of an offence, the court may order that the sentence be served intermittently, based on the age and character of the offender, or the nature of the offence and the motive. An intermittent sentence is a custodial sentence that is served during specific recurring days and times, rather than all at once (for example: every Friday at 6 p.m. to Monday at 7 a.m. for five weeks).
Inmates that were serving an intermittent sentence any time during the reporting period have been removed from the above data sets and included below. Additionally, inmates may have had multiple incarceration types or status during the reporting period.
| Location | Women | Men | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maplehurst Correctional Complex | n/a | 3 | 3 |
| Toronto South Detention Centre | n/a | 31 | 31 |
| Vanier Centre for Women | 7 | n/a | 7 |
| Eastern Region | n/a | 26 | 26 |
| Brockville Jail | n/a | 1 | 1 |
| Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre | n/a | 2 | 2 |
| Quinte Detention Centre | n/a | 23 | 23 |
| Central Region | 7 | 34 | 41 |
| Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre | n/a | 4 | 4 |
| Central North Correctional Centre | n/a | 5 | 5 |
| Monteith Correctional Centre | n/a | 2 | 2 |
| North Bay Jail | n/a | 5 | 5 |
| Sudbury Jail | n/a | 3 | 3 |
| Thunder Bay Correctional Centre | 2 | n/a | 2 |
| Thunder Bay Jail | n/a | 1 | 1 |
| Northern Region | 2 | 20 | 22 |
| Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre | 3 | 38 | 41 |
| Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre | n/a | 7 | 7 |
| Niagara Detention Centre | n/a | 11 | 11 |
| Sarnia Jail | n/a | 1 | 1 |
| Southwest Detention Centre | n/a | 1 | 1 |
| Western Region | 3 | 58 | 61 |
| Total | 12 | 138 | 150 |
In total, there were 1,193 individuals who served an intermittent sentence between April 1, 2018 and May 31, 2018, of which 150 inmates had at least one placement in segregation. Of these 150 inmates, there were 44 (29%) who had a current or previous mental health alert on file, 39 (26%) who had a suicide alert, and 16 (11%) who were on suicide watch.
Human rights-based data collection for inmates in restrictive confinement
Effective October 31, 2018, the ministry is required to publicly release data annually regarding its use of restrictive confinement for all individuals in Ontario’s correctional system, excluding those on lockdown, and to include the following in the report:
- duration of time each inmate spent in restrictive confinement, including continuous days and total days over the last 365 days
- reason the inmate was placed in restrictive confinement
- number of inmates who had a suicide alert or suicide watch alert placed by clinical staff
Furthermore, the ministry is required to disaggregate the data based on:
- those with mental health disabilities (including risk of suicide or self-harm) whether identified through mental health alerts, mental health screening and reassessment, or by being reported and confirmed
- sex/gender
- facility
- region
Disclosure on data collection method
For the purposes of this data release, restrictive confinement is to be determined by policy, standing orders and a bi-monthly assessment of typical operations. The ministry does not currently have a definition of restrictive confinement specified in corporate or institutional policy. As a result, for this report, restrictive confinement has been identified as any bed that is not segregation, general population or protective custody. This will also include specialized care beds, which typically house inmates based on behavioural, physical or mental health needs. These specialized beds may allow inmates to have hours outside of their cell, and programming that differ from units designated for the general inmate population. However, the differentiation between time in and out of a cell, and general population is still being clarified. The ministry will work with the Independent Expert to define restrictive confinement and incorporate the definition into corporate and institutional policy by December 31, 2018.
Upon consultation with the Independent Expert, the ministry is narrowing the data collection time period from 365 days to a five week period between April 9 and May 13, 2018. Prior to April 6, 2018, the ministry’s Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) did not allow institutional housing locations to be tracked. The ministry and the Independent Expert have also agreed that a five-week period would provide an adequate sample of inmates for the purposes of this report. All subsequent releases of data will cover the 365-day timeframe required by the OHRC with an operationalized definition of restricted confinement.
To collect the information required, a report was generated through OTIS to capture any inmates identified in the system as being in a specialized care bed between April 9 and May 13, 2018. OTIS is an electronic database used to track those under the supervision of the ministry and includes demographic, institutional housing and placement history. This is entered into OTIS manually and, due to technology limitations, may be recorded through other means and transferred into OTIS at a later time. The report captured the number and duration of placements, as well as any mental health alerts for inmates included in this time period.
The generated report was unable to capture the total duration of time each inmate spent in specialized care beds over the last 365 days due to the updates to the institutional housing locations in OTIS that occurred in April 2018. The ministry is also unable to report on the reasons for placement into specialized care beds at this time, as there is currently no method for recording reasons for this placement in OTIS. The ministry is working to establish an automated process to track data relating to restrictive confinement, which will include tracking reasons for placement.
Specialized care placements captured in this report include new movements into a specialized care unit, movements from one specialized care unit to another, as well as movements between beds on the same unit. Where inmates had both a specialized care and segregation placement that overlapped, the total days in the specialized care bed was calculated by subtracting the number of days in segregation from the overall placement. If the resulting total was zero days, a value of one day in a specialized care bed was recorded. This may have resulted in exaggerated numbers of clients in specialized care. This ensures that no client who had a specialized care placement was missed in the review.
Demographic information entered in OTIS is largely self-reported by the inmate or is reliant on information provided to the ministry by police agencies or by the courts and therefore may change over time. OTIS displays the most recent details for an inmate and maintains a record of information previously entered into the system. The report generated for this release captured demographic information that was active at the time that the data was pulled. This report does not include additional data related to the Ontario Human Rights Code, including race, age, religion and disability due to the lack of a formal definition of restrictive confinement. Subsequent releases of data will include the additional Human Rights Code information.
OTIS currently captures inmates’ gender as binary male or female. Additional expressions of gender are captured in a “transgender alert”, in a separate screen in OTIS. Where an inmate has a transgender alert, the gender field in OTIS will reflect the inmate’s preferred gender and may change over time. The gender information released in this report is not reflective of non-cisgender inmates. The ministry is in the process of updating OTIS to better reflect gender expression and identity.
At the time of this review, the identification of inmates with mental health conditions was only possible through a review of each individual inmate’s healthcare file. The results of the mental health screening tools and any confirmation of a self-reported mental health condition were stored in hard copy files and a full file review was not feasible. As a result, the ministry identified inmates with mental health conditions using any mental health or suicide risk alerts that are recorded in OTIS.
The ministry acknowledges that this is a limited approach to identifying inmates with mental health conditions as mental health alerts are inconsistently managed across all institutions. The process for adding or removing a mental health alert in OTIS varies among facilities. As a result, the data for this release includes current and previous mental health alerts, both verified and unverified. The mental health, suicide risk and suicide watch alerts were recorded as of the time the data was collected, as individuals may have had an alert created after the period of placement in specialized care related to that placement. This captures those with possible mental health concerns.
The identification of individuals experiencing mental health concerns is further complicated as the ministry’s policy does not have a fulsome definition of what is considered a mental illness or mental health concern. By December 31, 2018, the ministry will address the issue of inconsistencies in mental health alerts by implementing a policy that requires all mental health alerts to be verified by a mental health professional in a manner that is consistent across all institutions. The ministry is currently developing consistent definitions of mental illness, disability and impairment to better align with definitions used by community health services by spring 2019.
Review of all inmates in specialized care beds between April 9, 2018 and May 13, 2018
There were 1,678 inmates identified as being in restrictive confinement between April 9, 2018 and May 13, 2018, out of a total population of 10,988 (15%). In total, there were 2,818 in specialized care beds during this time period. This excludes inmates with an intermittent sentence which is reported on separately.
Population breakdown
| Location | Female inmates | Female placements/th> | Male inmates | Male placements | Total inmates | Total placements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maplehurst Correctional Complex | 1 | 2 | 183 | 290 | 184 | 292 |
| Ontario Correctional Institute | n/a | n/a | 149 | 178 | 149 | 178 |
| Toronto East Detention Centre | n/a | n/a | 90 | 126 | 90 | 126 |
| Toronto South Detention Centre | 5 | 8 | 464 | 838 | 469 | 846 |
| Vanier Centre for Women | 44 | 54 | n/a | n/a | 44 | 54 |
| Central Region | 50 | 64 | 886 | 1,432 | 936 | 1,496 |
| Central East Correctional Centre | n/a | n/a | 56 | 85 | 56 | 85 |
| Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre | 21 | 24 | 18 | 22 | 39 | 46 |
| St. Lawrence Valley Centre | n/a | n/a | 56 | 102 | 56 | 102 |
| Eastern Region | 21 | 24 | 130 | 209 | 151 | 233 |
| Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre | n/a | n/a | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 |
| Central North Correctional Centre | n/a | n/a | 149 | 306 | 149 | 306 |
| Kenora Jail | n/a | n/a | 30 | 39 | 30 | 39 |
| North Bay Jail | 7 | 14 | 7 | 16 | 14 | 30 |
| Thunder Bay Correctional Centre | 1 | 1 | n/a | n/a | 1 | 1 |
| Thunder Bay Jail | n/a | n/a | 44 | 63 | 44 | 63 |
| Northern Region | 8 | 15 | 247 | 442 | 255 | 457 |
| Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre | 8 | 21 | 142 | 341 | n/a | 362 |
| Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre | n/a | n/a | 137 | 200 | n/a | 200 |
| Southwest Detention Centre | 9 | 9 | 26 | 42 | n/a | 51 |
| Stratford Jail | n/a | n/a | 14 | 19 | n/a | 19 |
| Western Region | 17 | 30 | 319 | 602 | 336 | 632 |
| Total number of inmates | 96 | n/a | 1,582 | n/a | 1,678 | n/a |
| Total number of placements | n/a | 133 | n/a | 2,685 | n/a | 2,818 |
Of the 1,678 inmates included in the review, 96 identified as female and 1,582 identified as male. These numbers include 17 inmates who self-identified as transgender during this period.
| Number of times placed in specialized care beds | Women | Men | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 76 | 958 | 1,034 |
| 2 | 11 | 361 | 372 |
| 3 | 4 | 146 | 150 |
| 4 | 2 | 66 | 68 |
| 5 | 3 | 30 | 33 |
| 6 | 0 | 11 | 11 |
| 7 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 96 | 1,582 | 1,678 |
There were 1,034 inmates (62%) with a single placement during this period, while 644 (38%) had been placed two or more times.
Duration of time spent in specialized care beds
| Location | Maximum number of days - females | Median (days) - females | Mode (days) - females | Maximum number of days - males | Median (days) - males | Mode (days) - males | Median (days) - overall | Mode (days) - overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maplehurst Correctional Complex | 3 | 2.5 | None | 207 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Ontario Correctional Institute | n/a | n/a | n/a | 334 | 58 | 97 | 58 | 97 |
| Toronto East Detention Centre | n/a | n/a | n/a | 174 | 14 | 1 | 14 | 1 |
| Toronto South Detention Centre | 33 | 15 | None | 180 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Vanier Centre For Women | 168 | 1 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 1 |
| Central Region | 168 | 1 | 1 | 334 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| Central East Correctional Centre | n/a | n/a | n/a | 354 | 22 | 1 | 22 | 1 |
| Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre | 7 | 2 | 2 | 95 | 7.5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| St. Lawrence Valley Centre | n/a | n/a | n/a | 204 | 17 | 1 | 17 | 1 |
| Eastern Region | 7 | 2 | 2 | 354 | 17 | 1 | 14 | 2 |
| Algoma Treatment And Remand Centre | n/a | n/a | n/a | 69 | 40 | 69 | 40 | 69 |
| Central North Correctional Centre | n/a | n/a | n/a | 638 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Kenora Jail | n/a | n/a | n/a | 209 | 17 | 2 | 17 | 2 |
| North Bay Jail | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Thunder Bay Correctional Centre | 3 | 3 | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 3 | 3 |
| Thunder Bay Jail | n/a | n/a | n/a | 77 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Northern Region | 7 | 2 | 1 | 638 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre | 14 | 4 | 4 | 206 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre | n/a | n/a | n/a | 381 | 19 | 7 | 19 | 7 |
| South West Detention Centre | 25 | 10 | 3 | 179 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 1 |
| Stratford Jail | n/a | n/a | n/a | 216 | 12 | 1 | 12 | 1 |
| Western Region | 27 | 2 | 2 | 381 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 1 |
| Overall | 168 | 3 | 1 | 638 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
Across all regions, the consecutive length of time for specialized care placements for males ranged from a minimum of one day to a maximum 638 days. Consecutive placement lengths for females ranged from one to 168 days. The median, or mid-point, number of days consecutively spent in specialized care was three days for females and seven days for males, with an overall median of seven consecutive days. The most frequent, or mode, consecutive placement length was one day for all inmates. These placement lengths include time that was spent in specialized care prior to April 9, 2018 if the placement continued into the April 9, 2018 to May 13, 2018 time period.
Mental health alerts
A mental health alert is recorded in an inmate’s file by facility staff including correctional, medical and clinical staff, if the inmate:
- discloses a history of a mental health disability
- is showing signs of, or has disclosed thoughts about self-harm or suicide
- is demonstrating behaviour that may suggest a mental illness
The ministry’s policy at the time required that all alerts be reviewed by the superintendent and healthcare coordinator or their designate, the area manager and community case manager. They were also responsible for updating a mental health alert status from active to inactive, as appropriate. Of the 1,678 inmates included in the review, 907 (54%) had a mental health alert. Seventy-one per cent of women in specialized care had a mental health alert and 53% of men in specialized care had mental health alerts.
Additionally, under the ministry’s policy, an initial mental health screening is required to be completed within 48 hours of an inmate being admitted to an institution. If an inmate screens positive for possible mental health conditions, they are further assessed and may be referred to a psychiatrist or physician, if necessary. As of July 31, 2018, inmates are also reassessed for mental healthcare needs within six months of admission to the institution.
Suicide risk alerts
A suicide risk alert is recorded in an inmate’s file by facility staff including operational or healthcare staff when they require enhanced supervision or if they are at risk of posing harm to themselves. Suicide risk alerts are broken down into the following categories:
- enhanced supervision
- previous suicide attempt(s)
- on suicide watch
Of the 1,678 inmates covered in the review, 661 (39%) had a suicide alert recorded in their file.
A suicide watch is a subset of a suicide risk alert and indicates an active period of time when an inmate requires increased supervision due to a high risk of suicide or self-harm. Of the inmates included in the review, 320 (19%) were on suicide watch while in restrictive confinement. Ministry policy requires that an assessment, monitoring and documenting process including frequent in-person checks, occur at least once every 10 minutes. Every hour between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., correctional staff also conduct hourly verbal interactions with the inmate.
Intermittent sentences
When the court imposes a sentence of imprisonment of 90 days or less on an offender convicted of an offence, the court may order that the sentence be served intermittently, based on the age and character of the offender, or the nature of the offence and the motive. An intermittent sentence is a custodial sentence that is served during specific recurring days and times, rather than all at once (for example: every Friday at 6 p.m. to Monday at 7 a.m. for five weeks).
Inmates that were serving an intermittent sentence any time during the reporting period have been removed from the above data sets and included below. Additionally, inmates may have had multiple incarceration types or status during the reporting period.
| Location | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maplehurst Correctional Complex | 1 | n/a | 1 |
| Toronto East Detention Centre | 4 | n/a | 4 |
| Toronto South Detention Centre | 10 | n/a | 10 |
| Vanier Centre for Women | n/a | 1 | 1 |
| Central Region | 15 | 1 | 16 |
| Central East Correctional Centre | 2 | n/a | 2 |
| Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre | n/a | 2 | 2 |
| Eastern Region | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Central North Correctional Centre | 5 | n/a | 5 |
| North Bay Jail | 1 | n/a | 1 |
| Thunder Bay Jail | 1 | n/a | 1 |
| Northern Region | 7 | n/a | 7 |
| Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Western Region | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Total | 25 | 7 | 32 |
In total, there were 967 individuals who served an intermittent sentence between April 9, 2018 and May 13, 2018, of which 32 inmates had at least one placement in a specialized care bed. Of these 32 inmates, there were eight (25%) who had a current or previous mental health alert on file, four (13%) who had a suicide alert, and two (6%) who were on suicide watch.
Review of all inmate deaths within all facilities
The ministry is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all inmates. From January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017, 26 inmates out of a population of 43,708 (0.05%), died while in the custody of the ministry. Two of these deaths occurred in segregation. Of the inmates who died while in the custody of a correctional institution in 2017, three inmates (12%) were female, while 23 (88%) were male. There were 17 inmates (65%) who had self-identified as white, four (15%) self-identified as Indigenous, two (8%) self-identified as black, and one who self-identified as South Asian, at the time of their admission to the facility. The remaining individuals did not report their race. Sixteen (61%) inmates were between the ages of 25 and 49 at the time of their deaths, while eight (31%) were 50 or older, and two (8%) were between the ages of 18 and 24.
In all instances, multiple investigations followed each death, and included:
- a death investigation by the Office of the Chief Coroner to determine the cause and manner of death
- a local police investigation to determine if the death resulted from any criminal activity
- a medical investigation if the death occurred in a hospital, while the inmate was in the custody of a correctional facility
- an internal investigation to determine whether all ministry policies and procedures were followed with respect to the care and custody of the inmate
It is the ministry’s policy that all institutional staff are responsible for the care of inmates. If staff believe that an inmate may pose a danger to themselves or others, they must alert the appropriate officials and take necessary steps to ensure the safety of all involved. Suicide awareness training is required for all corrections and healthcare staff. Protocols are in place to care for inmates who are at risk for suicide, including the initiation of suicide risk alerts and suicide watch alerts.
If a coroner’s investigation determines that a death was not due to natural causes, a mandatory inquest is called to examine the circumstances. Examples of natural causes can include internal body or organ failure not caused by external factors, a pre-existing health condition or illness that could lead to death. The ministry works to address all recommendations arising from an inquest to help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Death inquest reports and schedule of inquests are publicly available.
Housing location at time of death
The ministry collects and analyzes information on all inmate deaths while they are in the custody of the ministry, whether they were physically in other locations such as a hospital.
For the purposes of this report, housing location at the time of death has been broken down into the following five categories:
- General population or protective custody, where the inmate is not typically subject to increased restrictions on movement or increased time in cell.
- Segregation, where an inmate is placed in a specific cell or unit so they are isolated from others as a result of meeting specific criteria such as self-request, security concerns, medical issues, or following a misconduct.
- Restrictive confinement, where an inmate is neither in segregation, nor general population, and is in a specialized care placement with some level of restriction on movement or interactions with others.
- Restrictive confinement for medical reasons, where an inmate has been placed in an infirmary or medical housing unit.
- Outside of a correctional facility, where the inmate may be transferred to another location, such as a hospital, while still under the care of the correctional institution.
Cause of death by gender, race and housing location
The Office of the Chief Coroner has not officially declared the official cause of death for the inmates covered in this report, with the exception of one instance where the reason for death was officially declared as natural causes. The unofficial causes of death for the remaining 25 inmates are as follows:
- 11 with undetermined reasons as death investigations are ongoing
- nine who unofficially died by suicide
- four who unofficially died of natural causes
- one instance of homicide
In 2017, 15 (58%) deaths occurred while the inmate was within general population at a facility, five (19%) occurred in restrictive confinement for medical reasons, two (8%) in segregation, one (4%) in restrictive confinement and three (11%) occurred outside of a correctional facility, such as a hospital.
Specialized Care
| Cause of death and race | General Population or Protective Custody | Specialized care for medical reasons | Segregation | Outside of a facility | Grand Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide - male, total | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| Natural Causes - male, total | 1 | n/a | 3 | n/a | 1 | 5 |
| Suicide - Female | n/a | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| Suicide - Male | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | |
| Suicide - total | 5 | 2 | n/a | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| Undetermined - Female | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Undetermined - Male | 8 | n/a | 1 | n/a | n/a | 9 |
| Undetermined - total | 8 | n/a | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| Grand total | 15 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 26 |
| Cause of death and race | General Population or Protective Custody | Specialized Care | Specialized care for medical reasons | Segregation | Outside of a facility | Grand Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide - Black, total | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| Natural Causes - Not reported | n/a | n/a | 1 | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| Natural Causes - South Asian | n/a | n/a | 1 | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| Natural Causes - White | 1 | n/a | 1 | n/a | 1 | 3 |
| Natural Causes - total | 1 | n/a | 3 | n/a | 1 | 5 |
| Suicide - Aboriginal | n/a | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 2 |
| Suicide - Not reported | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| Suicide - White | 4 | n/a | n/a | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Suicide - total | 5 | 2 | n/a | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| Undetermined - Aboriginal | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 2 |
| Undetermined - Black | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| Undetermined - White | 5 | n/a | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Undetermined - total | 8 | n/a | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| Grand Total | 15 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 26 |
Corrections and healthcare staff may initiate the following alerts for inmates:
- mental health alert, if the inmate discloses a history of a mental health condition, is showing signs that may suggest a mental illness, or has disclosed thoughts about self-harm or suicide
- suicide risk alert, if the inmate had previous suicide attempts or is at risk of posing harm to themselves or requires enhanced supervision
- suicide watch alert, which is a subset of a suicide risk alert that indicates an active period of time when an inmate requires increased supervision such as frequent in-person checks due to a high-risk of suicide or self-harm and requires increased supervision
| Alerts | General Population or Protective Custody | Specialized Care | Specialized care for medical reasons | Segregation | Outside of a facility | Grand Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mental health alert | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 15 |
| Suicide risk alert | 3 | 1 | n/a | 2 | 3 | 9 |
| Suicide watch alert | 1 | n/a | n/a | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| No suicide watch alert | 2 | 1 | n/a | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| No suicide risk alert | 4 | n/a | 2 | n/a | n/a | 6 |
| No suicide watch alert | 4 | n/a | 2 | n/a | n/a | 6 |
| No mental health alert | 8 | 1 | 2 | n/a | n/a | 11 |
| Suicide risk alert | 1 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 2 |
| Suicide watch alert | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| No suicide watch alert | n/a | 1 | -- | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| No suicide risk alert | 7 | n/a | 2 | n/a | n/a | 9 |
| No suicide watch alert | 7 | n/a | 2 | n/a | n/a | 9 |
| Grand Total | 15 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 26 |
Of the 26 inmates covered in this report, 15 inmates (58%) had a mental health alert on their file, 11 (42%) had a suicide risk alert, and five (19%) were placed on suicide watch, at the time of their deaths.
Inmate deaths during 2012-2016
The ministry has included a brief summary of deaths by cause for the years 2012 to 2016 as a point of reference.
| Reason | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural causes | 10 | 8 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 39 |
| Suicide | 2 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 18 |
| Undetermined | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 17 |
| Accident | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 11 |
| Homicide | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 18 | 17 | 22 | 17 | 14 | 88 |
Between 2012 and 2017, there was an average of 19 deaths per year. The official leading cause of death was natural causes followed by suicide. In cases where the cause of death has been listed as undetermined, either a death investigation is still ongoing, or the coroner has declared the official cause of death as undetermined. The coroner’s office has not yet officially determined the causes of death for some cases during 2015 and 2016, which is reflected in the higher number of undetermined causes of death for those years.
The increase in deaths in 2017 are a result of a rise in suspected overdoses (included in the undetermined causes) and that effective June 15, 2017, statistics collected (including custodial and non-custodial deaths) will now fall under one category for all custody-related deaths. This accounts for three of the deaths in this reporting year.