Carceral Institution Management Measures to Prevent and Manage COVID-19 (v1.0)

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Note on the Limitations of Data Collection and Analysis

The measures noted in the document above are what governments across the country are officially claiming to be putting in place to prevent and manage COVID-19 behind the walls of carceral institutions in their statements posted on government websites. There are certainly jurisdictions implementing some combination of the measures listed, but they have either not disclosed them on their websites or have limited their disclosure to responses in the context of media reporting, which have yet to be analyzed. The extent to which the measures listed below are being implemented – some of which are harmful – needs to be corroborated by prisoners, prison staff and oversight bodies. Taking these caveats into consideration, this document is best used to prompt further questions, as well as enhance government transparency and accountability with respect to how they are managing carceral institutions during the pandemic, rather than an actual reflection of what is happening on the ground. If you become aware of government statements, media reports or other materials where carceral institutional measures to prevent and manage COVID-19 are disclosed, please email justin.piche@uottawa.ca.

Correctional Service Canada (website)

• 30 March 2020: "Update on Coronavirus diseases (COVID-19)" 
• 30 March 2020: "COVID-19 Preparedness and Plans" 

Newfoundland and Labrador Corrections (webpage)

• 6 April 2020: "COVID-19 and the Department of Justice and Public Safety 

Prince Edward Island Community and Correctional Services (webpage)

• No search results

Nova Scotia Correctional Services (webpage)

• 14 March 2020: "Changes to Correctional Facilities Visits to Prevent COVID-19" 
• 15 March 2020: "All Visits to Correctional Facilities Suspended to Prevent COVID-19" 
• 18 March 2020: "Correctional Facilities Take Further Action to Prevent Covid-19" 
• No date: "Untitled [response to the East Coast Prison Justice Society from Nova Scotia's Department of Justice]" 

New Brunswick Corrections Branch (webpage)

• 17 March 2020: "Update on COVID-19" 

Services correctionnels du Québec (website)

• No search results

Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General - Correctional Services (website)

• 13 March 2020: "Statement from Minister Elliott and Solicitor General Jones regarding Ontario's adult correctional facilities in response to COVID-19" 
• 20 March 2020: "Ontario Stepping Up Measures to Limit the Spread of COVID-19 in Correctional System" 
• 31 March 2020: "Correctional Services Update on COVID-19"

Manitoba Community Safety Division (webpage)

• No search results

Saskatchewan Corrections and Policing (webpage)

• No date: "Corrections and Policing" 
• 27 March 2020: "Update on COVID-19 Measures Being Taken in Correctional Facilities"

Alberta Correctional Services (webpage)

• No date: "COVID-19 Response: Adult Correctional and Remand Centres" 

British Columbia Corrections (webpage)

• No date: "BC Corrections Response to COVID-19" 

Nunavut Corrections (webpage)

• 1 April 2020: "COVID-19 Department of Justice Services Update" 

Northwest Territories Corrections Service (webpage)

• 25 March 2020: "Information About NWT Corrections Facilities and COVID-19 Readiness"

Yukon Corrections (website)

• No search results