Canadian federal prisoners often report that correctional officers antagonize and provoke them to act out. This can result in correctional officers using force and isolation against the prisoner. Many prisoners who have experienced multiple uses of force and prolonged isolation are severely traumatized and may resort to self-harm or sometimes suicide.

Prison stationary cameras only record video without audio. If a handheld camera is used during a use of force, it does not capture what led up to the incident, and the camera operator usually fails to record the use of force by pointing the camera at the floor or the backs of other officers.

When these incidents are investigated, correctional authorities generally believe officers who deny any misconduct. Prisoners’ accounts are dismissed as lacking credibility.

Requiring correctional officers to wear body cameras that record audio and video whenever they interact with prisoners (strip searches should be record with audio only) would provide objective evidence of incidents. It would also protect officers from false allegations of misconduct against them. The use of body cameras would promote professionalism and accountability in our prisons.