The Thunder Bay District Jail is facing accusations of overusing segregation.
The Head Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission toured the facility earlier this month, speaking with officials and prisoners. Renu Mandhane tweeted she spoke with an inmate who hadn’t been out of segregation in several years.
It’s not just #s – 10 days ago, I met a young Indigenous man in #TBay Jail who was held in continuous segregation for +4 years. /6
— Renu Mandhane (@RenuMandhane) October 18, 2016
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Correctional Services wouldn’t comment on this specific inmate’s case, saying extended segregation isn’t ideal but is sometimes necessary. In an email, the official told our newsroom that such cases are reviewed every 5 and 30 days to look at whether the inmate should stay in isolation.
On Monday, the province said it’s conducting a review of segregation practices, and put a 15-day cap on how long inmates can be held in isolation.
