TORONTO — The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) is demanding the Government of Ontario fix significant shortcomings in new regulations concerning strip searches in provincial prisons.
The CCLA and an individual who has been forced to endure strip searches launched a lawsuit against the Government of Ontario in 2022 over the unfettered power to strip search prisoners.
“Too many strip searches are taking place in Ontario prisons for no rhyme or reason. These new regulations demonstrate Ontario recognizes it cannot strip search everyone, but they will not stop the severe harm of excessive and unnecessary strip searches,” said Shakir Rahim, Director of Criminal Justice for the CCLA.
“Far fewer strip searches would take place if body scanners were recognized as an alternative and prisons were properly outfitted with them. It is shameful that the Ontario government has not taken this common-sense step when the federal government has already done so.”
The significant shortcomings in the new Ontario regulations include:
- Body scanners are not recognized as an alternative to strip searches,
- Individuals isolated due to a mental health crisis can be strip searched without suspicion they have contraband, these unnecessary strip searches carry a high risk of degrading their health and increasing the risk of suicide,
- Strip searches of entire groups of prisoners are permitted on a lower standard, with no limit to how many people can be searched and other essential safeguards,
- Permitted strip search methods are unnecessarily traumatic, meaning individuals who are sexual assault survivors could be retraumatized.
“The time for Ontario to fix these glaring errors was years ago. We are demanding the province take action now to ensure prisoners have dignity. The woefully inadequate new regulations mean the violence of unnecessary strip searches will continue.”
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About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
Media Contact:
media@ccla.org
Alex Nanoff – 613.709.6318
About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
For the Media
For further comments, please contact us at media@ccla.org.
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