Photo by Whitehorse Star
Justice Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee
Amendments to Corrections Act and regulations are now in effect
Amendments to the territory’s Corrections Act and Corrections Regulations to address segregation and restrictive confinement practices came into force last Friday.
Amendments to the territory’s Corrections Act and Corrections Regulations to address segregation and restrictive confinement practices came into force last Friday.
The amendments provide a clearer and more comprehensive framework to govern the use of segregation and restrictive confinement.
They also establish new independent external oversight and accountability measures for the use of segregation in the territory’s corrections system.
An adjudicator will be appointed to review segregation placements prior to an inmate being held in non-disciplinary segregation for five consecutive days, the Yukon government said in a statement.
Additionally, a review panel will be established to provide oversight in circumstances where an individual has been held in segregation for more than 40 aggregate days.
The external review processes are designed to provide independence and ensure that placements are only done in accordance with the circumstances contained in the amended legislation.
“These progressive amendments follow the United Nations’ Mandela Rules, and align corrections in the Yukon with international best-practices for those in custody,” said Justice Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee.
“Corrections reform and the safe, fair and compassionate treatment of inmates is our government’s priority.”
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Comments (3)
Up 8 Down 5
Oya on Jun 25, 2020 at 4:54 pm
Thanks to Darrell Sheepway for this long-overdue progressive move. Unfortunately it took someone once on that side of the law to fall victim to one or more power-tripping gov types who thought it ok to lock someone up in isolation and throw away the key (figuratively speaking) to realize what was wrong with that picture. Who knows? Maybe Sheepway was one of those types himself when he was on the outside of the bars looking in, and to be clear: I do not know Sheepway or condone what he did to get himself in jail - but the point of my post is: it took someone who was aware of the way it was supposed to be to realize he was being treated unfairly, maybe even unlawfully, in order for change to happen. I shudder to think how many other inmates were subjected to such treatment and didn’t realize they had or should have had rights. While jail is certainly not supposed to be The Ritz, it certainly shouldn’t be some kind of torture institution either.
Yukoners apparently need protection from overbearing government control without independent oversight. This change at least brings in independent oversight. Sad when our resources have to be spent protecting citizens from the government. I have to wonder how many more pieces of Yukon legislation need updating to meet their original intent and purpose? Lots, I would bet.
Up 10 Down 1
Lime in the coconut on Jun 24, 2020 at 4:27 pm
They did not need to change the rules they only needed to educate the ignorance of those who enforced them. Now it will look like some new people did some new thing... Ooohhh... Ahhhhh...
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Jc on Jun 23, 2020 at 8:07 pm
"United Nations Mandela Rules"? I wonder if Russia, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and most of the African countries abide by those rules. But according to the Useless Nations, Canada and the western countries are supposed to be on a higher standard than them.