Abstract
Despite Canada’s reputation for being a leader in human rights, its treatment of prisoners requires a closer examination. In particular, prisoner and human rights advocates have widely criticized the use of solitary confinement in Canadian federal and provincial prisons as a form of torture. Solitary confinement imposes excruciating and demeaning conditions on prisoners, jeopardizing their mental and physical welfare. Following court decisions deeming solitary confinement unconstitutional, the federal government replaced the formal use of solitary confinement with structured intervention units. However, these units continue to be a reformulated version of the original practice, sustaining the torturous conditions subjected to inmates. Implications of current practices include a negative impact on inmates' general well-being and a violation of prisoners’ rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and international law via the Nelson Mandela Rules. This policy proposal calls for the end of solitary confinement and structured intervention units in all Canadian prisons. While there are some challenges to doing so, benefits to ending the practice include reduced correctional costs, enhanced safety for the general prison population, and increased reintegration success.
Recommended Citation
Rico, Amy. 2025. "It’s Time for a Change: A Proposal to Abolish Solitary Confinement From Canadian Prisons." Bridges: An Undergraduate Journal of Contemporary Connections 8, (1). https://scholars.wlu.ca/bridges_contemporary_connections/vol8/iss1/2
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