Ontario jails/prisons have had an increasing issue with  absenteeism; meaning: the practice of regularly staying away from work or school without good reason.

Penetanguishene jail (CNCC) has been erroneously using lockdowns as a result of absenteeism, when they have adequate employees to avoid this problem. Inmates are being thrown into their cells and deprived of access to healthcare, physical exercise / fresh air, showers / personal hygiene products and supplies, mail, med rounds and basic privacy and dignity as our jails are filled over maximum capacity. You can call it whatever you want, but this is equal to solitary confinement or “segregation” which in the UK is considered torture having detrimental impacts on mental health issues, creating more and leads to greater aggression during rehabilitation once integrated back into the community. 
Furthermore, 82% of inmates are presumptively innocent and awaiting trial/sentencing in a new Freedom of Information request by CTV News in an article from January 30th, 2024 by Abby O’brien. Not only are we neglecting human rights, but those who are innocent are serving time and receiving unusual punishment- a large majority for crimes they haven’t commit. This is inhumane and unjust. Innocent or guilty. 
This is happening at CNCC, with multiple families rising up with lawsuits as sections 6, 12, and 15(1) have ALL been violated. Mobility Rights (Section 6), Legal Rights (Section 12), and Equality Rights (section 15.1.) This is not okay. It has been over two months, and families as well as loved ones suffer when you have sufficient personnel in the jail to adequately avoid these situations. I can literally stand by the absenteeism as at my last visit, employees were screaming across the parking lot because someone didn’t show up and the worker “owed them”. 

In continuation, Abby O’brien provides a quote from Nicole Myers in her 2024 article, an associate professor of criminology at Queen’s University “We have more people in our provincial jails who are supposed to be considered legally innocent than who have been convicted or found guilty and sentenced to be there.”

A separate article from CTV News, written by The Canadian Press on July 03, 2024 goes on to deliver a message from Michael Weinrath, a criminal justice professor at the University of Winnipeg, who wrote in one expert report that no other provincial jurisdictions across Canada use lockdowns on a regular basis to manage staffing shortages. He says "To summarize, most prison systems in Canada experience some problems with absenteeism, but hire sufficient personnel and organize their correctional facility staffing to enable adequate coverage and avoid staffing related lockdowns.”

My partner, who is wrongly convicted, didn’t get his first breath of fresh air for three months when he first arrived in January. This is inhumane, and cruel. Imagine not being able to breathe fresh air, let alone talk to a loved one when such things are primary to mental well- being and a successful turn-around rate with reoffenders when little resources are offered in the correctional centre. Imagine not being able to have a basic shower or use personal hygiene products, take your meds, then dealing with illnesses and not being able to access healthcare?! Imagine having no personal space or privacy because jails/prisons are being packed over maximum capacity so you sleep on a cement floor in a 6x12 cells with 4-5 others sometimes without a mat or blanket. Imagine not being able to receive a simple letter in the mail for weeks on end, while the detrimental affects of lockdown have been proven to be similar to solitary confinement. 

I know you may not sleep on a cement floor without a mat, and you get fresh air, get to use toilets that aren’t clogged and have access to personal healthcare of all kinds- but take a minute to genuinely imagine being stripped of all of your possessions, thrown in a cold cell, and being treated like you’re in segregation, except it’s not quiet and you don’t sleep on top of it all. It doesn’t sound too pretty? Does it? Let’s come together and show that we care for Canadas families and inmates; and show that we want our rights back. 

Sign today, and bring HOPE back for our inmates and families who each deserve their voices to be heard. 
“Injustice anywhere, is a threat everywhere.”