New Liberal bill will limit solitary confinement for prisoners

OTTAWA – The federal government is introducing legislation that would limit how long prison inmates can be kept in solitary confinement.

Once passed, the bill would — for the first time — impose a so-called legislative framework establishing a time limit for what prison officials call administrative segregation.

Under the current law, the Correctional Service of Canada is required to release prisoners from segregation at the earliest possible time.

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The new law would establish a segregation time limit of 21 days initially, and then 15 days once the legislation has been the law of the land for 18 months.

The legislation also proposes amending the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and the Abolition of Early Parole Act to make them compliant with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

That includes reinstating an oral hearing after a suspension, termination or revocation of parole.

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