I can't speak to all the details, but segregation in provincial jails isn't as isolated as protective custody. When I was a volunteer for an agency working with young offenders (mostly), I had a tour of a large provincial jail (not in Metro Toronto). At one point I was ushered into a room where a group of inmates were doing different things - using a computer, reading, talking in small groups, etc. I was informed these were inmates in the segregation unit. I was not told why these particular men were in segregation, but it was clear from observation that quite a few had either cognitive disabilities, physical disabilities, or both. I would infer that some may have had mental health issues as well. Most were quite personable and happy to explain about what they were doing before we moved on. There was a social worker or some such person (not uniformed) in there facilitating things.
I would imagine many of these individuals might have had great difficulty coping with the general population and would probably be seen as easy marks or targets for abuse, etc.
Thank you!
I did some research as I was curious, and it seems that in Canada we only have what is called "Segregation".
There's 1.
Administrative Segregation which can be a.
Voluntary or b.
Involuntary, and can be for an undetermined amount of time. It has to do with the safety risk of the inmate, or the safety risk of others. Then there's 2.
Disciplinary Segregation, which has punitive value, and a maximum duration of 30 days. I believe this is what we often consider "solitary confinement" and is always under a great deal of scrutiny. This is where investigative journalists have had a field day, as it's been reported that inmates go weeks with out showers, are locked in their cells 23-24 hours a day, denied medical attention, commit suicide, etc. I believe the 30 day maximum duration was only implemented recently. THEN there's something called the
Special Handling Unit (SHU), which is part of a maximum security institution in Quebec. This is for the worst of the worst. The folks that cannot be managed in regular penitentiaries get shipped here. I don't think there's a maximum duration, but "every effort is made to return them to a regular prison setting as soon as possible".
MS is in Administrative Segregation. Whether Voluntary or Involuntary, I don't know. I would suspect Voluntary though. Which is funny, because that's what the pedophiles, child molesters, snitches, and police informants usually opt for.
http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/security/001003-1000-eng.shtml
http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/research/b39-eng.shtml#Toc195779129
ETA: With Administrative Segregation an inmate still gets privileges, a
minimum of 2 hours out of their cell, and hygiene time on top of that. I believe with Disciplinary Segregation, those privileges are removed. I have no idea what being in the SHU actual looks like.
