Inmates in Ontario jails want overcrowding resolved

Overcrowding has inmates in Ontario prisons takin action in court

At least 100 current and former inmates are suing the province of Ontario over how they claim they were treated in jail due to overcrowding.

CBC News is reporting an abundance of inmates awaiting their day in court has lead to half of Ontario’s jails being overcrowded, the highest percentage in six years. 

This means a 7-by-2 metre cell meant for two people often contains three or more inmates.

Advocacy groups and prison staff have linked the overcrowding to the increase in violence between cellmates.

This has lead to some talk about turning to alternatives such as restorative justice, which focuses on rehabilitation so that felons do not become repeat offenders.

Flickr Photo by: haven't the slightest

STORY WRITTEN BY: NATASHA TAGGART