Québec City, September 24, 2020 – In her 2019-2020 Annual Report, Ombudsperson Marie Rinfret notes that despite her repeated requests, the required changes to health services and social services in correctional facilities still have not been made across Québec.
"The transfer of healthcare responsibilities in correctional facilities to the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux began in 2016. Since then, transfer has occurred almost everywhere in Québec and there has been noticeable improvement. However, I cannot help wondering why the Québec City and Montréal facilities, which account for 40% of the detention population, were not part of the transfer," says the Ombudsperson.
Intermittent sentences still an issue
Another known issue for which solutions are slow to be put in place concerns intermittent sentences. In a special report released in 2018, the Protecteur du citoyen spoke out against the consequences of the increase in this kind of sentence, such as greater overcrowding. In the Protecteur du citoyen’s opinion, alternatives to incarceration must be considered. When alternatives are not possible, current practices must change. In its Annual Report, the Protecteur du citoyen has asked the Ministère de la Sécurité publique to, no later than December 1, 2020, provide it with a timeline for fully implementing its recommendations.
In 2019-2020, the Protecteur du citoyen intervened regarding:
- The Commission québécoise des libérations conditionnelles;
- The Ministère de la Sécurité publique;
- The 18 correctional facilities under the Department’s jurisdiction.
The percentage of substantiated complaints is 43%. The majority concern lengthy wait times, shortcomings with the living environment, and failure to uphold detainees’ rights.
Acting impartially and independently, the Protecteur du citoyen ensures that the rights of people are upheld in their interactions with public services. Its services are free and user-friendly.
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Media Relations:
Carole-Anne Huot
Phone: (418) 646-7143/Cell: (418) 925-7994
Email: carole-anne.huot@protecteurducitoyen.qc.ca
