Jahn Settlement: data on inmates in Ontario
Learn about the status of inmates in Ontario, including inmate segregation, restrictive confinement, and death in correctional facilities.
Overview
In 2013, the Ontario government reached a settlement with former inmate Christina Jahn following their incarceration in the Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre (OCDC). Jahn had petitioned the board to provide better basic human rights and improve service and conditions for inmates. In January 2018, Ontario reached a joint agreement with the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) to implement the ten public interest remedies that were mandated in the settlement. The province appointed special advisors to review its commitment to improve services and conditions for individuals in confinement at Ontario’s adult correctional institutions – particularly those with mental health issues
Special advisors appointed for adult corrections
The Honourable Justice David Cole was appointed as Ontario’s independent reviewer to monitor the government’s compliance with the 2013 settlement and the terms of the new agreement. He issued a final report on overall compliance.
Professor Kelly Hannah-Moffat was appointed as Ontario’s independent expert on human rights and corrections to provide impartial advice to assist the government’s implementation of the terms of the agreement. The advice included:
- commentary on Ontario’s plan to track inmates placed in restrictive confinement
- segregation
- how data was released to the public
Ministry reviews on inmates in segregation
The Ministry of the Solicitor General conducted a series of point-in-time reviews of inmates in segregation who have possible mental health conditions. The first two reviews examined whether and when various standard procedures occurred for the identified inmates, such as:
- mental health screening
- physician referrals
- mental health reassessments
The ministry committed to screen for mental health in inmates who were segregated at six facilities chosen by the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC). The results of these reviews are included below.