prison

Correctional Investigator of Canada, Dr. Ivan Zinger, delivers remarks at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Indigenous over-incarceration continues to plague Canada’s prisons: watchdog

System continues to fail Indigenous people as prison population grows

Correctional Investigator of Canada, Dr. Ivan Zinger, delivers remarks at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
The union representing prison officers says its members are concerned about the safety of staff and inmates over a needle exchange program proposed by the Correctional Service. It says this comes after an inmate at the medium-security Mountain Institution in Agassiz, B.C., died Tuesday from what is believed to be a fentanyl overdose. (File Photo)

Prison officer union against needle exchange after B.C. inmate overdose death

It comes after an inmate at Agassiz’s Mountain Institution died from what is believed to be an overdose

The union representing prison officers says its members are concerned about the safety of staff and inmates over a needle exchange program proposed by the Correctional Service. It says this comes after an inmate at the medium-security Mountain Institution in Agassiz, B.C., died Tuesday from what is believed to be a fentanyl overdose. (File Photo)
Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s is shown on Feb. 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sarah Smellie

Newfoundland jail death renews calls for accountability in provincial corrections

164-year-old prison known for its rodent and mould infestations and crumbling infrastructure

Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s is shown on Feb. 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sarah Smellie
Paul Bernardo is shown in this courtroom sketch during Ontario court proceedings via video link in Napanee, Ont., on October 5, 2018. The Correctional Service of Canada is set to unveil the results of a review into the controversial transfer of notorious serial killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Greg Banning

Bernardo to stay in medium-security prison as corrections defends transfer

Corrections commissioner said transfer ‘sound and followed all applicable laws and policies’

Paul Bernardo is shown in this courtroom sketch during Ontario court proceedings via video link in Napanee, Ont., on October 5, 2018. The Correctional Service of Canada is set to unveil the results of a review into the controversial transfer of notorious serial killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Greg Banning
FILE - In this Nov. 22, 2017 file photo, Dr. Larry Nassar appears in court for a plea hearing in Lansing, Mich. Nassar, who was convicted of sexually abusing female gymnasts, was stabbed multiple times during an altercation with another incarcerated person at a federal prison in Florida. Two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press the attack happened Sunday at United States Penitentiary Coleman in Florida. The people said he was in stable condition Monday. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

Disgraced sports doctor Nassar stabbed multiple times at federal prison

Larry Nassar sexually assaulted athletes at Michigan State University and at USA Gymnastics

FILE - In this Nov. 22, 2017 file photo, Dr. Larry Nassar appears in court for a plea hearing in Lansing, Mich. Nassar, who was convicted of sexually abusing female gymnasts, was stabbed multiple times during an altercation with another incarcerated person at a federal prison in Florida. Two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press the attack happened Sunday at United States Penitentiary Coleman in Florida. The people said he was in stable condition Monday. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
The Matsqui Institution, a medium-security federal men’s prison, is seen in Abbotsford, B.C., Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. An architect of the legislation governing Canada’s prison system says while most want retribution on killer and serial rapist Paul Bernardo, it was some time ago that the country “gave up torture.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canadians want revenge on Bernardo, but that’s not how prison works: ex-official

News of the transfer was confirmed by the lawyer for the families of two of his victims

The Matsqui Institution, a medium-security federal men’s prison, is seen in Abbotsford, B.C., Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. An architect of the legislation governing Canada’s prison system says while most want retribution on killer and serial rapist Paul Bernardo, it was some time ago that the country “gave up torture.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre speaks with reporters before the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on Parliament Hill, Tuesday, June 6, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Poilievre calls on Liberals to make killers like Bernardo stay in max-security prison

Bernardo is serving a life sentence for the kidnapping, torture and murders of Kristen French, 15, and Leslie Mahaffy, 14

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre speaks with reporters before the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on Parliament Hill, Tuesday, June 6, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Paul Bernardo sits in the back of a police cruiser as he leaves a hearing in St. Catharines, Ont., April 5, 1994. The lawyer for the families of Paul Bernardo’s victims says the killer and serial rapist should be returned to his maximum-security prison and transparency be provided around what led to his transfer to a medium-security facility in the first place.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Prison service to review decision to transfer killer Bernardo to medium security

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says he raised concerns about the transfer directly to federal corrections commissioner Anne Kelly

Paul Bernardo sits in the back of a police cruiser as he leaves a hearing in St. Catharines, Ont., April 5, 1994. The lawyer for the families of Paul Bernardo’s victims says the killer and serial rapist should be returned to his maximum-security prison and transparency be provided around what led to his transfer to a medium-security facility in the first place.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Paul Bernardo sits in the back of a police cruiser as he leaves a hearing in St. Catharines, Ont., April 5, 1994. The federal public safety minister says reports of teen killer and serial rapist Paul Bernardo being transferred to a medium-security prison are “shocking and incomprehensible.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Minister ‘shocked’ at reports of Paul Bernardo being moved to medium-security prison

He was initially incarcerated at Ontario’s Kingston Penitentiary and later spent about a decade at the Millhaven Institution

Paul Bernardo sits in the back of a police cruiser as he leaves a hearing in St. Catharines, Ont., April 5, 1994. The federal public safety minister says reports of teen killer and serial rapist Paul Bernardo being transferred to a medium-security prison are “shocking and incomprehensible.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Matsqui Institution in Abbotsford. (Abbotsford News file photo)

Drugs and 3 weapons worth $32K found in inmate’s cell at Abbotsford prison

Contraband discovered April 19 during search by officers at Matsqui Institution

Matsqui Institution in Abbotsford. (Abbotsford News file photo)
Correctional officers came across a pigeon with a mini backpack on Feb. 27 at Matsqui Institution in Abbotsford. (Stock photo by Couleur from Pixabay)

Backpack-wearing pigeon caught ‘in training’ at Abbotsford prison

Officers’ union president says no drugs found, unlike previous incident in December

Correctional officers came across a pigeon with a mini backpack on Feb. 27 at Matsqui Institution in Abbotsford. (Stock photo by Couleur from Pixabay)
Stock photo

Court certifies class-action suit alleging rampant illegal strip searches in prisons

Suit seeks an end to unauthorized searches, seeks compensation for victims

Stock photo
An inmate at the North Slave Correctional Complex in Yellowknife skins a squirrel as he and others take part in a class that teaches inmates trapping and outdoor survival skills on Thursday, Feb.16, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Angela Gzowski

‘Helped me rejuvenate my soul:’ Inmates in Yellowknife learn trapping, outdoor skills

Program intended to empower inmates and reconnect them with their culture

An inmate at the North Slave Correctional Complex in Yellowknife skins a squirrel as he and others take part in a class that teaches inmates trapping and outdoor survival skills on Thursday, Feb.16, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Angela Gzowski
Witness box and Judges’s bench at the Edmonton Law Courts building, in Edmonton on Friday, June 28, 2019. A registry of wrongful conviction cases in Canada is launching for the first time, showing 83 cases where people had their convictions overturned. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Researchers hope wrongfully convicted database will lead to reforms, more releases

Database launching this week with 83 cases

Witness box and Judges’s bench at the Edmonton Law Courts building, in Edmonton on Friday, June 28, 2019. A registry of wrongful conviction cases in Canada is launching for the first time, showing 83 cases where people had their convictions overturned. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers a keynote address on the Canada-Mexico relationship and North American competitiveness at the Centro University in Mexico City, Mexico, Wednesday Jan.11, 2023. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government is looking “carefully” and “quickly” at a letter from Canada’s premiers calling for a fix to the country’s bail system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Trudeau says Ottawa looking at bail reform after letter from premiers demands action

Poilievre says repeat offenders pose the biggest risk to public safety

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers a keynote address on the Canada-Mexico relationship and North American competitiveness at the Centro University in Mexico City, Mexico, Wednesday Jan.11, 2023. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government is looking “carefully” and “quickly” at a letter from Canada’s premiers calling for a fix to the country’s bail system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
The Pacific Institution is shown in this undated handout photo. A prison union spokesman says a pigeon carrying a miniature backpack filled with drugs was captured last week at the B.C. correctional facility. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Pacific Institution

Pigeon toting crystal meth in tiny backpack caught in Abbotsford prison yard

Officers’ union president says it’s another example of how creative drug smugglers have become

The Pacific Institution is shown in this undated handout photo. A prison union spokesman says a pigeon carrying a miniature backpack filled with drugs was captured last week at the B.C. correctional facility. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Pacific Institution
Kendal Campeau died in Pacific Institution in Abbotsford on Nov. 14, 2021.

More answers sought into death of Indigenous man in Abbotsford prison

Two organizations say Kendal Campeau was victim of ‘systemic issues’

Kendal Campeau died in Pacific Institution in Abbotsford on Nov. 14, 2021.
The body of Metchosin man Martin Payne was discovered July 12, 2019. Two escaped inmates from William Head Institution have been charged with his murder. (Martin Payne/Facebook)

Trial gets underway for B.C. prison escapees accused of murdering Metchosin man

Zachary Armitage and James Lee Busch are charged with killing 60-year-old Martin Payne

The body of Metchosin man Martin Payne was discovered July 12, 2019. Two escaped inmates from William Head Institution have been charged with his murder. (Martin Payne/Facebook)
Inmates at the William Head Institution show off their Royal Canadian Legion Branch 91 poppy box. Since at least 2016, inmates at the institution have been making donations to the West Shore Legion’s poppy campaign. (Courtesy of William Head Institution)

B.C. prisoners pitching in to keep memory of wartime sacrifices alive

Inmates at the William Head Institution on Vancouver Island make annual donations

Inmates at the William Head Institution show off their Royal Canadian Legion Branch 91 poppy box. Since at least 2016, inmates at the institution have been making donations to the West Shore Legion’s poppy campaign. (Courtesy of William Head Institution)
Pacific Institution in Abbotsford

Man dies while serving time in Abbotsford prison for double murder

Darcy Sidoruk, sentenced in 1982, was an inmate at Pacific Institution

Pacific Institution in Abbotsford