Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre

The Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre (OCDC) is a correctional facility in Ottawa, Ontario.[1] It opened in 1972.

Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre
Location2244 Innes Road Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1B 4C4
Coordinates45.42466°N 75.57970°W / 45.42466; -75.57970
StatusOperational
Capacity575
Opened1972
Managed byMinistry of Community Safety and Correctional Services

Conditions

The jail (referred to locally as "Innes") was condemned for not meeting United Nations standards for treatment of prisoners. In 2004, a defence lawyer likened it to an "Iraqi prison camp."[2] Some inmates are triple-bunked because of lack of space and overcrowding at the facility.[3] In 2016 it was revealed that showers were used as segregation cells. The Ottawa Citizen revealed this fact and the Minister responsible, Yasir Naqvi stopped the practice.[4]

Inmates were put into solitary confinement 555 times between April and September 2015. Critics called these numbers "shocking".[5] Due to overcrowding, the jail resorted to double bunking (the practice was banned in 2016), converting showers into cells and placing 3 inmates at a time who were supposed to be "segregated" in the same cell. Inmates in the 30-man dormitory are often denied the mandatory 20 minutes a day of yard time for over 2 weeks.[6][7]

In January 2016, correctional officers were within 24 hours of going on strike. The concerns raised by union members were increased lockdowns, a lack of personal and professional visits and a complete lockdown with no yard.[8]

A six-day hunger strike by prisoners occurred in December 2015. Prisoners were upset about having to eat meals in their cells due to lack of staffing at the prison.[9]

In March 2016, a special task force was formed to address issues as reported by inmates, staff, and their respective families and quickly identified 42 issues requiring significant improvement. Their first progress report was released late October 2016. The report showed 11 of 42 improvement recommendations having been complete.[10] The prison fulfilled 11 of these as of October 2016. They included a review of mental health training for staff and also guaranteed that inmates would be provided basic hygiene supplies. Additionally, the task force oversaw the introduction of a prisoner transportation coordinator, a daily bed usage reduction to 87%, and the elimination of bunking in showers as well as double/triple-bunking of cells, greatly contributing to relieving the general overcrowding issues.[11]

To date, the third and final task force progress report had reported that 21 of 42 recommended improvements had been completed, with realistic & measurable short-term goals set to complete the remaining 21.[12]

Notable incidents

In March 2016 an inmate collapsed and died of a heart attack after complaining that they felt unwell.[13]

See also

References
  1. Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services Archived 15 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Editorial: Enough. Fix the Ottawa jail". Ottawa Citizen. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  3. "Inmate dies after cardiac arrest at Ottawa jail". Ottawa Citizen. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  4. "Editorial: Enough. Fix the Ottawa jail". Ottawa Citizen. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  5. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawa-jail-criticized-for-shocking-use-of-solitary-confinement.
  6. "Community Advisory Boards - Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre | Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services". www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  7. "Take a rare look inside the notorious Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre". Ottawa. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  8. "Correctional officers posed to strike Jan. 10 after 'no board' report issued". Ottawa Citizen. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  9. "Inmates resume eating meals at Ottawa jail. The "hunger strike" lasted six days". Ottawa Citizen. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  10. "Inmate population down 20 per cent as Ottawa jail works to improve conditions" CBC News 27. 2016-10-27. Retrieved 2017-04-19
  11. "Fights, complaints, inmate population down as Ottawa jail works to improve conditions | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  12. "OCDC Task Force - Progress Report #3". Ministry of the Solicitor General. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  13. "Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre inmate collapses, dies". CBC/Radio-Canada. CBC News. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.


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