Additional beds will help correctional facilities to operate safely and keep violent and repeat offenders behind bars
The Ontario government is adding more beds to several adult correctional facilities, marking an important milestone in the province’s plan to ensure safety and sufficient jail capacity in both the short- and long-term.
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is ensuring the sustainability of the correctional system,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “We’re expanding and building facilities that will help frontline staff to do their jobs safely and effectively while increasing capacity to keep violent and repeat offenders off our streets.”
In the short term, the government is repurposing and re-opening the Regional Intermittent Centre at Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre in London and the Toronto Intermittent Centre at the Toronto South Detention Centre, adding up to 430 new beds by 2026 to accommodate minimum- and medium-risk inmates.
The province is also increasing the number of beds over the longer term at the following correctional facilities:
- Adding 18 new beds at the Quinte Detention Centre bringing the institution’s capacity to over 300 beds.
- More than doubling capacity at the new Brockville Correctional Complex by adding 184 new beds.
Increasing jail capacity will be supported by the hiring of up to 200 additional correctional staff which could include nurses, correctional officers and support staff.
Quick Facts
- As part of the government’s plans to increase capacity, two new jails will be built in eastern Ontario: the Eastern Ontario Correctional Complex in Kemptville and the Brockville Correctional Complex. The St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre will also be expanded to accommodate a women’s treatment unit and the Quinte Detention Centre will be expanded to add inmate programming and female capacity.
- These expansion initiatives build on the government’s $500 million investment to modernize adult correctional services through infrastructure upgrades and hiring of new staff.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
