Ontario correctional reform is urgently needed, according to the province’s ombudsman, following a record spike in complaints over the past year.
Paul Dubé reported that his office received 6,870 complaints about correctional facilities in 2024–2025. That’s a 55 per cent increase from the year before.
He described the concerns as serious and systemic. Issues include overcrowding, extended lockdowns, poor health care, and segregation of inmates with mental health conditions.
“These go beyond inefficiencies. They raise urgent human rights concerns,” Dubé said in his annual report released this week.
Dubé also noted that some Indigenous inmates were denied access to liaison officers. Others were placed in isolation due to mental health issues.
One case under investigation occurred in December 2023. Inmates at Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton were allegedly ordered to strip to their underwear and sit against a wall with their wrists zip-tied for two days.
“When we fail to uphold the basic dignity of people in custody, we do more than inflict harm — we erode public trust, degrade working conditions for staff, and weaken the very foundations of our justice system,” Dubé wrote.
Complaints involving youth correctional facilities also more than doubled. Cases rose from 202 to 423.
Dubé said his office recorded 30,675 total complaints across all sectors — the highest number in 30 years.
Local government complaints also reached a record. Municipalities received 3,908 reports, yet Dubé noted that many local officials have responded positively by adopting fair and transparent practices.
Dubé urged Ontario’s government to take bold steps now to fix the conditions inside jails and youth facilities.
He emphasized that real Ontario correctional reform must begin immediately to prevent further deterioration of the system.
