Structured Intervention Units and Mental Health in Canadian Federal Prisons: A Policy Assessment of Bill C-83

Abstract

On 21 June 2019, the federal government passed Bill C-83: An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and another Act with the primary intention of eliminating the use of administrative and disciplinary segregation in Canadian federal prisons and replacing the practice with structured intervention units. This new correctional model would serve as a way to separate unsafe inmates while ensuring they receive appropriate mental health services, increased time outside of their units, and meaningful human contact. The conception of Bill C-83 was largely a result of a history of widespread criticisms that administrative segregation infringed on human rights, posed significant mental health concerns, and violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. While the reform mitigated immediate pressure on the federal government to act, several advocacy groups, legal experts, politicians, and other stakeholders voiced negative opinions and indicated the shortcomings of the new units and the impact they will have on the health of prisoners. Bill C-83 has the potential to prompt significant change in the context of prison health reform, but this will be dependent on the federal government’s coordination with Correctional Services Canada.