/ #innes road jail #ottawa-carleton detention centre 

Province says it's making progress on implementing Innes Road Jail task force recommendations

_ (press release) _ Today, Ontario released its first status report on the actions taken to date to address recommendations from the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre (OCDC) Task Force Action Plan .

The province has already implemented a number of the Task Force’s recommendations and is actively working to address recommendations requiring longer term solutions.

Completed tasks include the OCDC health care review, improvements in monitoring facility conditions and a full facility inspection. The province is also looking at the findings of the report to see how they can be applied across all of Ontario’s adult correctional institutions.

https://twitter.com/1310JasonWhite/status/791687261175808000

https://twitter.com/1310JasonWhite/status/791702781417652225

Ontario is also continuing work on implementing the step-down and mental health units recommended by the Task Force. These units will better support inmates with mental health needs by providing them with improved access to screening and assessment services, treatment and community outreach, clinical and psychotherapeutic support, and programs and supports that will help prepare them for transition back into the community. Details on the implementation plan and an operational timeline for the units will be provided in the next progress report.

In addition to this work, Ontario’s pre-trial custody project in Ottawa has resulted in faster bail decisions. Reducing the time it takes for cases to be resolved or go to trial is helping to alleviate remand pressures at OCDC. As well, the Ministry of the Attorney General is moving to incorporate Gladue principles into the bail process, including through the development of a dedicated Indigenous Bail and Remand Pilot Program.

The province continues to make progress on the implementation of all remaining recommendations and will release the next status report by Jan. 31, 2017.

Quick Facts






  * 
 The 13-member
 [
  Task Force
 ](http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/Corrections/OttawaCarletonDetentionCentreTaskForce/OCDCTaskForceTermsReference.html)
 was comprised of ministry staff, local and provincial union leadership, legal experts and representatives from local community-based organizations.

  * 
 The Task Force held six meetings between April 12 and May 26, 2016 and consulted with local, provincial and national policing and corrections partners, and received advice and feedback from the public, community organizations and 130 inmates at OCDC to help inform recommendations.

  * 
 The Task Force looked at ways the health and safety of all staff and inmates could be improved at the institution and made a total of 42 recommendations which included ways to improve conditions and address capacity issues at the OCDC.

  * 
 Gladue principles seek to address the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system by requiring that systemic and background circumstances along with all available sanctions other than imprisonment be considered.


Additional Resources






  * 
 See the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre Task Force
 [
  terms of reference
 ](http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/Corrections/OttawaCarletonDetentionCentreTaskForce/OCDCTaskForceTermsReference.html)
 .

  * 
 Read the
 [
  action plan
 ](http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/Corrections/OttawaCarletonDetentionCentreTaskForce/OCDCTaskForceActionPlan.html)
 and recommendations.

  * 
 Read more about Ontario’s
 [
  Correctional Services
 ](http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/corr_serv/AboutCorrectionalServices/CS_main.html)
 .