Alberta solitary confinement class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: A class action lawsuit filed against the provincial government of Alberta by inmates who have been held in solitary confinement in their provincial correctional facilities was certified by a judge.
- Why: Inmates claim administrative segregation they were subjected to at the provincial correctional facilities caused them physical and mental harm.
- Where: The class action lawsuit is being heard in the Calgary Court of Queen’s Bench.
A class action lawsuit targeting the provincial government of Alberta filed by inmates who have been held in solitary confinement was recently certified by a judge in the Calgary Court of Queen’s Bench.
Inmates claim that the use of solitary confinement —and administrative segregation in particular—as a punishment in provincial correctional facilities is harmful to their physical and mental health, reports CBC.
Administrative segregation differs from segregation for disciplinary purposes and involves an inmate being held in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day in a cell that measures only 90 square feet, according to the solitary confinement class action.
Inmates say they have had to endure spending weeks alone in administrative segregation in cells which are cold, dark, and where they receive their food through a door slot, reports CBC.
Associate Chief Justice John Rooke certified the class action lawsuit on July 18 under the condition that a new representative plaintiff is approved by the Calgary Court of Queen’s Bench.
Court wants new lead plaintiff in solitary confinement class action
Rooke ruled that the original representative plaintiff, Gordon Robinson, was not suitable for the position and that he had not shown he was capable of successfully fulfilling the role, reports CBC.
Robinson has reportedly spent more than a year in solitary confinement in three separate Alberta correctional facilities after he was found guilty of shooting his friend to death in 2016.
The class action lawsuit aims to cover any Canadian individual who has been held in solitary confinement in an Alberta provincial correctional facility since Nov. 1, 1992, reports CBC.
Administrative segregation was done away with by the federal government back in 2019, at which time it was replaced with a new system which allows inmates more access to programs and time outside their cell.
The federal government agreed to pay $28 million last year to end claims it violated the human rights of inmates who were placed in administrative segregation in federal penitentiaries.
Have you been held in solitary confinement in an Alberta provincial correctional facility? Let us know in the comments!
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75 thoughts onSolitary confinement class action certified in Alberta court
Was locked up in EYOC. Went to Alberta Hospital for Drug and Alcohol treatment. Alberta hospital staff stated a kitchen knife was missing. Youth drug until was completely locked down. Most inmates returned to EYOC due to missing knife. Was later placed in a cell (the hole) for as far as I can remember was 5 1/2 months straight. I did some solid time alone in a hole by myself. 5 months later staff came and mention they found the knife in the sink drain pipe.
I spent an brunch of time in old erc and the new obe
It’s extremely inhumane the things provincial correction officers get away with i did 18 months straight in the old eedmonton remand center given only bag lunches with the guards spitting in the sandwiches
I served 2 months in confinement due to covid-19. Also spent another 3 weeks in a cell on c range all in Calgary
Than 21 days on 23 hour lock up in edmonton remand
Spent 8 months in solitary (federal, prairie region) over the period of 2011 to 2018, diagnosed with BPD, among other mental health illnesses. Am I still eligible? I am only learning of these suits now. Thanks.
Can I still be apart of a lawsuit? I was incarcerated during covid in a 23 hour lockdown everyday and when I felt sick was sent to the max in edmkntkn remand.
I was incarcerated for 4 years in Alberta remand & provincial facilities. I spent 5 and 1/2 months on “non-punishment” lockdowns/isolation. The Alberta Correctional staff are completely out of control. They do not abide by the rules & regulations governed by The Correctional Act. And despite organizations such as the Ombudsman and Human Rights, there is no way for an inmate to receive help from abusive staff while incarcerated. The abuse and torment inmates endure from Correctional Staff would be considered punishable by law if witnessed by the public. From unlawful confinement, withholding essential medication and food to aggravated and sexual assaults. The Alberta provincial correctional staff abuse inmates knowing there is no consequences for their actions. The following is a list of AB correctional staff, the facilities they work in and the abuse I witnessed inflicted on inmates:
Calgary Remand Center; CP0II JAJA – physically kicks inmates awake at 7a.m. cell inspection, denied mentally handicapped inmates essential medication, CP0II RANCE – followed a female inmate into the washroom and assaulted her because “she had requested the washroom too many times”, denies the use of the washroom for hours without reason, physically attacked a deft male inmate from behind for “not listening to her instructions”.
Edmonton Remand Center; CPOI Parent – pays inmates to make false claims of drug use/possession to gain justifiable reasoning to punish inmates she doesn’t like, CPOII GREYWAL – tackled elderly inmate for dropping her water bottle near her feet. This assault last for several minutes and resulted in GREYWAL dragging the elderly women around by her hair to and ended with GREYWAL kicking the inmate repeatedly on the floor of the inmates cell. CPO3 Dennis – refused to acknowledge female inmates pregnancy and caused female inmate to miscarriage from repeatedly kicking her in the stomach. CPOII KOENDERS – assaulted inmate on an isolation unit by punching her, throwing cell effects at her and hitting the inmate with a mattress.
Edmonton Young Offenders Center – Female Annex; CPO3 Timothy Boychuck has 3 publicly known sexual assault charges against him, all from female inmates housed in the Young Offenders Center.
I am a class action member for the Federal segregation suit.
Am I eligible to take part in the provincial class action?
I did 28 total weeks of ‘quarantine’ during covid. Plus I placed on ad seg on numerous occasions. I had to do some weird stuff to keep me somewhat sane.
I was held in solitary confinement for 3 and a half months in peace river correctional centre