Structured Intervention Units and Mental Health in Canadian Federal Prisons: A Policy Assessment of Bill C-83

On 21 June 2019, the federal government passed Bill C-83: An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and another Act with the primary intention of eliminating the use of administrative and disciplinary segregation in Canadian federal prisons and replacing the practice with structure...

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Main Author: Lamiah Adamjee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: McMaster University Library Press 2022-11-01
Series:Health Reform Observer - Observatoire des Réformes de Santé
Subjects:
Online Access:https://mulpress.mcmaster.ca/hro-ors/article/view/4821/4310
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author Lamiah Adamjee
author_facet Lamiah Adamjee
author_sort Lamiah Adamjee
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description On 21 June 2019, the federal government passed Bill C-83: An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and another Act with the primary intention of eliminating the use of administrative and disciplinary segregation in Canadian federal prisons and replacing the practice with structured intervention units. This new correctional model would serve as a way to separate unsafe inmates while ensuring they receive appropriate mental health services, increased time outside of their units, and meaningful human contact. The conception of Bill C-83 was largely a result of a history of widespread criticisms that administrative segregation infringed on human rights, posed significant mental health concerns, and violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. While the reform mitigated immediate pressure on the federal government to act, several advocacy groups, legal experts, politicians, and other stakeholders voiced negative opinions and indicated the shortcomings of the new units and the impact they will have on the health of prisoners. Bill C-83 has the potential to prompt significant change in the context of prison health reform, but this will be dependent on the federal government’s coordination with Correctional Services Canada.
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spelling doaj.art-eb89bf4a5d284c1089e601bc50a1b1622022-12-22T03:38:50ZengMcMaster University Library PressHealth Reform Observer - Observatoire des Réformes de Santé2291-63692022-11-0110210.13162/hro-ors.v10i2.4821Structured Intervention Units and Mental Health in Canadian Federal Prisons: A Policy Assessment of Bill C-83Lamiah Adamjee0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4804-2536McGill UniversityOn 21 June 2019, the federal government passed Bill C-83: An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and another Act with the primary intention of eliminating the use of administrative and disciplinary segregation in Canadian federal prisons and replacing the practice with structured intervention units. This new correctional model would serve as a way to separate unsafe inmates while ensuring they receive appropriate mental health services, increased time outside of their units, and meaningful human contact. The conception of Bill C-83 was largely a result of a history of widespread criticisms that administrative segregation infringed on human rights, posed significant mental health concerns, and violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. While the reform mitigated immediate pressure on the federal government to act, several advocacy groups, legal experts, politicians, and other stakeholders voiced negative opinions and indicated the shortcomings of the new units and the impact they will have on the health of prisoners. Bill C-83 has the potential to prompt significant change in the context of prison health reform, but this will be dependent on the federal government’s coordination with Correctional Services Canada.https://mulpress.mcmaster.ca/hro-ors/article/view/4821/4310administrative segregationsolitary confinementcanadaprison healthmental health carestructured intervention unitsprison health reformevaluationfederal government
spellingShingle Lamiah Adamjee
Structured Intervention Units and Mental Health in Canadian Federal Prisons: A Policy Assessment of Bill C-83
Health Reform Observer - Observatoire des Réformes de Santé
administrative segregation
solitary confinement
canada
prison health
mental health care
structured intervention units
prison health reform
evaluation
federal government
title Structured Intervention Units and Mental Health in Canadian Federal Prisons: A Policy Assessment of Bill C-83
title_full Structured Intervention Units and Mental Health in Canadian Federal Prisons: A Policy Assessment of Bill C-83
title_fullStr Structured Intervention Units and Mental Health in Canadian Federal Prisons: A Policy Assessment of Bill C-83
title_full_unstemmed Structured Intervention Units and Mental Health in Canadian Federal Prisons: A Policy Assessment of Bill C-83
title_short Structured Intervention Units and Mental Health in Canadian Federal Prisons: A Policy Assessment of Bill C-83
title_sort structured intervention units and mental health in canadian federal prisons a policy assessment of bill c 83
topic administrative segregation
solitary confinement
canada
prison health
mental health care
structured intervention units
prison health reform
evaluation
federal government
url https://mulpress.mcmaster.ca/hro-ors/article/view/4821/4310
work_keys_str_mv AT lamiahadamjee structuredinterventionunitsandmentalhealthincanadianfederalprisonsapolicyassessmentofbillc83