Ontario’s jails are facing a serious overcrowding problem that has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new data obtained by The Canadian Press. The data shows that most of the province’s jails are operating well over their capacity, putting inmates and staff at risk of infection and violence.
Inmate population spikes in 2023
The data, obtained through freedom-of-information laws, shows the average inmate count and institutional capacity over the past 10 years for the province’s jails. Those institutions hold people accused of a crime but not out on bail, as well as those serving sentences of two years less a day.
As of Sept. 30, 2023, there was an average of 8,889 people in provincial jails, well over the 7,848-person capacity. Overall, the jails were operating at 113 per cent capacity at that time. This is a significant increase from the previous year, when the average inmate count was 7,495 and the capacity was 104 per cent.
Most of Ontario’s institutions were over capacity in 2023, the data shows. Maplehurst Correction Complex in Milton, Ont., was the most overcrowded last year, with an average inmate population of 1,188 but official capacity for 887 – meaning it was operating at 134 per cent capacity in 2023. Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre in London, Ont., was a close second at 133 per cent capacity, with an average 471 inmates while having operational capacity for 353. South West Detention Centre in Windsor, Ont., was operating at 129 per cent capacity, with 337 inmates but space for only 262 people.
Impact of overcrowding on inmates and staff
The overcrowding in jails has led to several problems, including cramped living conditions for inmates and an increase in assaults on correctional officers. Inmates are triple bunking in single cells in several institutions, said Chad Oldfield, a corrections spokesman for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. This creates a lack of privacy, hygiene, and safety for the inmates, especially during a pandemic.
Correctional officers are increasingly assaulted, he said, and operational stress injuries and post-traumatic stress for the guards is on the rise. “We’ve also lost a number of staff who have died by suicide over the last year,” he said. “You’ve got climbing inmate counts and then you’ve got staffing shortages, it’s just a recipe for disaster.”
The overcrowding also affects the quality of programs and services for inmates, such as education, health care, and rehabilitation. Many of these programs have been suspended or reduced due to the pandemic, leaving inmates with little to do and increasing their frustration and anxiety.
Reasons for overcrowding and possible solutions
One of the main reasons for the overcrowding is the high number of inmates who are awaiting trial and presumptively innocent. According to the government, 81 per cent of the inmates held in provincial jails are on remand, meaning they have not been convicted or sentenced. This is a much higher proportion than in other provinces, such as Quebec (58 per cent) and British Columbia (54 per cent).
Some of the factors that contribute to the high remand rate are the lack of affordable housing, mental health and addiction issues, and the delays and backlogs in the court system. The pandemic has also exacerbated these problems, as many courts have been closed or operating at limited capacity, postponing many trials and bail hearings.
Some of the possible solutions to address the overcrowding issue are to increase the use of bail and diversion programs, to expand the capacity and staffing of the jails, and to invest in community-based alternatives and supports for inmates. The government has said that it is working on some of these initiatives, such as building new facilities, hiring more staff, and implementing virtual court services. However, these measures may take time and resources to implement and may not be enough to solve the problem in the long term.
