Human rights-based data collection for inmates in segregation

The ministry is committed to publicly releasing annual data on the Open Data Catalogue regarding the use of segregation for all inmates in Ontario’s adult correctional system, excluding those on lockdown. This report is for the one-year period from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, which aligns with the government’s fiscal year.

Data releases include the following:

• the duration of time each inmate spent in segregation conditions, including continuous and total days over the last year
• the reason the inmate was in segregation conditions
• the number of inmates who had a suicide risk or suicide watch alert

The data posted is disaggregated based on:

• inmates with mental health alerts
• gender
• facility/institution
• region
• race
• age
• religion or spiritual affiliation

Disclosure on data collection method

Segregation is defined in Ontario Regulation 778 (O. Reg. 778) as any type of custody where an inmate is in highly restricted conditions for 22 to 24 hours or does not receive a minimum of two hours of meaningful social interaction each day, excluding in circumstances of an unscheduled lockdown.

This data was collected through the Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS), an electronic database used to track inmates under the supervision of the ministry and includes demographic, institutional housing and placement history. Inmate information is entered into OTIS manually and, due to technological limitations, may be recorded through other means before being entered into OTIS at a later time. OTIS displays the most recent details for an inmate and maintains a record of information previously entered in the system. The ministry reviews information in OTIS to ensure accuracy.

A record is required to be created each time an inmate meets segregation conditions and is closed when the inmate no longer meets those conditions. A break in a segregation condition is defined as occurring when an inmate is out of segregation conditions for 24 or more continuous hours.

Demographic information entered into OTIS is largely self-reported and may change over time. The report generated for this release captured demographic information that was active at the time of an inmate’s most recent period of supervision.

OTIS records inmates’ gender as either “male” or “female”. When an inmate identifies as transgender, this information will be included in OTIS through an offender flag and the gender field will reflect the inmate’s preferred gender identity, which may change over time.

The information on race and religion or spiritual affiliation extracted from OTIS is aligned with the Anti-Racism Data Standards (ARDS). Data is also collected on Indigenous identity, ethnic origin, race and religion in order to align with the ARDS under the Anti-Racism Act, 2017 (ARA).

The identification of inmates with mental health concerns is based on the presence of a mental health alert that is recorded in OTIS. Mental health alerts do not necessarily indicate a confirmed mental health diagnosis. However, they signal the presence of potential mental health concerns.

Serious mental illness alerts are also included in the list of mental health alerts in OTIS. The identification of an inmate requiring a serious mental illness alert is made when one of the following occurs:

• a regulated health professional who is qualified to make diagnoses within their clinical scope considers the inmate to be experiencing at least one disorder as identified in O. Reg. 778
• an institutional staff member has determined that an inmate is experiencing at least one of a list of symptoms outlined in O. Reg. 778

All mental health alerts, including serious mental illness alerts, are required to be verified by mental health professionals. Healthcare staff are required to assess inmates and verify mental health alerts in OTIS within 48 hours of the alert being entered. To capture the potential presence of a mental health concern, the data for this release includes both verified and unverified mental health alerts present on the inmate’s file at the beginning of each time they were in segregation conditions.

Review of all inmates in segregation conditions between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026

Throughout the reporting period, an average of 2.7% of inmates were in segregation conditions on any given day. There were 9,587 (20.7%) inmates identified as having been placed in segregation conditions between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026, out of a total population of 46,234 inmates. Forty-three per cent of inmates were in segregation conditions only once. In total, inmates were in segregation conditions 57,154 times during the reporting period.

An inmate’s custodial location may change while they are in segregation conditions. As a result, the information presented in the following tables reflects the location on file for the most recent time they were in segregation conditions during the reporting period. For example, an inmate who was in segregation conditions at one institution and later transferred to another institution would be counted twice for the number of times in segregation conditions. However, for the totals reflecting the number of inmates in segregation conditions, each inmate is only counted once and is attributed to their most recent location during the reporting period. This can result in a higher number of inmates in segregation conditions in comparison to the number of unique inmates.

Population breakdown

Note: Locations reflect institutional records at the time of admission. Maplehurst Correctional Complex and Niagara Detention Centre show inmates were in segregation conditions with no unique inmates, as those inmates were subsequently transferred.

Of the 9,587 inmates who were in segregation conditions at least once, 1,691 (17.6%) self-identified as female and 7,896 (82.4%) self-identified as male. These numbers include 202 inmates who self-identified as transgender during this period. Transgender inmates are captured in the dataset through an offender flag and their reported gender is based on their preferred gender identity.

Of the overall population in provincial institutions, 24.8% of females in custody and 20.0% of males in custody were in segregation conditions at least once.

Number of times in segregation conditions

There were 4,151 (43.3%) inmates in segregation conditions once during the time period and 5,436 (56.7%) were in segregation conditions two or more times. The highest number of times an inmate was in segregation conditions was 118.

Duration of time in segregation conditions

Across all regions, the longest continuous period an inmate was in segregation conditions was 15 days for females and 74 days for males. The median time spent continuously in segregation conditions was two days for both females and males. The most frequent duration, or mode, was one day. These durations include any continuous period in segregation conditions that began before April 1, 2025 and continued into the reporting period.

Ministry policy requires that inmates in segregation conditions be reviewed within 24 hours, and every five days thereafter. An independent review of inmates in non-disciplinary segregation conditions is required at least once every five consecutive days. These reviews consider alternative strategies that can be utilized to remove inmates from segregation conditions and into appropriate and less restrictive conditions as soon as possible.

Inmates in segregation conditions receive a baseline assessment by a nurse upon entering segregation conditions and have their physical and mental health status assessed daily by a member of the healthcare services team. Segregation is to be used only as a last resort. In addition, inmates are not to be in segregation conditions for more than 15 consecutive days.

The total number of aggregate days inmates were in segregation conditions were counted to March 31, 2026. Aggregate days are calculated based on the total number of days in segregation conditions during the one-year reporting period.

Across all regions, the aggregate number of days inmates were in segregation conditions ranged from 1 to 263 days for females and from 1 to 337 days for males. The overall median aggregate number of days was four, and the most frequent aggregate duration was one day.

The ministry reports on inmates in segregation conditions for 15 consecutive days to the Deputy Solicitor General and the Assistant Deputy Minister of Institutional Services. The ministry also reports to the Assistant Deputy Minister of Institutional Services when an inmate has reached 60-aggregate days in segregation conditions.

Reasons for segregation conditions

The ministry’s policy during this time required that segregation only be considered for an inmate if they require confinement following misconduct, or for non-disciplinary reasons, they:

• need protection for medical concerns
• require protection for other concerns
• pose a security or safety risk to others
• pose a security or safety risk to others for medical reasons
• refuse to be searched or resist a search

Throughout an inmate’s time in segregation conditions, the reason may change. Of the 57,154 times inmates in segregation conditions, 57,098 (99.9%) had one associated reason, while 56 (0.1%) had more than one reason. The most frequent reasons included:

• 29,970 (52.4%) due to an inmate’s need for protection for medical reasons
• 19,614 (34.3%) due to an inmate’s requiring protection for other concerns

Mental health alerts

A mental health alert is recorded in an inmate’s file by staff including correctional, medical and clinical staff, if the inmate:

• discloses a mental illness
• is showing signs of, or has disclosed thoughts about self-harm or suicide
• is demonstrating behaviour that may suggest a mental illness

The ministry’s policy requires an initial mental health screening to be completed within 48 hours of an inmate being admitted to an institution. All active mental health alerts are required to be verified by mental health professionals within 48 hours of the alert being entered into OTIS. If an inmate screens positive for a possible mental health condition, they are further assessed by healthcare professionals and may be referred to a psychiatrist or physician. Additionally, inmates are also reassessed for mental healthcare needs at least once every six months of continuous custody. Mental health professionals are required to add mental health alerts, verify new and existing mental health alerts, and expire inactive alerts as appropriate throughout an inmate’s stay in custody.

Of the 9,587 inmates who were in segregation conditions during the reporting period, 4,100 (42.8%) had an active mental health alert on file while in segregation conditions (49.7% of females and 41.3% of males). In comparison to the entire inmate population during the reporting period, 40.8% of females and 24.2% of males had an active mental health alert on file.

The ministry has prohibited subjecting inmates to segregation conditions if they have been diagnosed with certain disorders or if inmates are observed to be experiencing specific behaviors.

Suicide risk alerts

A suicide risk alert is recorded in an inmate’s file when they require enhanced supervision or if they are at risk of posing harm to themselves. Suicide risk alerts are broken down into the following categories:

• enhanced supervision
• previous suicide attempt(s)
• suicide watch

Of the 9,587 inmates who were in segregation conditions during the reporting period, 3,199 (33.4%) had a suicide risk alert on file while in segregation conditions (28.3% of females and 34.4% of males). In comparison, among the overall custodial population, 19% of females and 18.1% of males had a suicide risk alert on file at any point during the reporting period.

A suicide watch is a type of a suicide risk alert that indicates when an inmate requires increased supervision due to a high risk of suicide or self-harm. Of the 9,587 inmates who were in segregation conditions during the reporting period, 2,210 (23.1%) had a suicide watch alert on file while in segregation conditions (14.3% of females and 24.9% of males). In comparison, in the overall custodial population, 6.8% of females and 10.6% of males had suicide watch alerts on file during the reporting period.

For all inmates with suicide watch alerts, ministry policy requires that an assessment, monitoring and documenting process including frequent in-person checks occur at least once every 10 minutes. Between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., correctional staff are required to interact verbally with the inmate on an hourly basis.

Demographics

Demographic factors were extracted as they were recorded in OTIS at the time of the most recent supervision period and therefore do not reflect where the information may have changed over time.

In cases where an inmate reported more than one race or religious affiliation, these inmates have been included in the categories of “more than one reported race category” or “more than one reported religious or spiritual affiliation”.

Age

The average age amongst all inmates who were in segregation conditions at the start of the reporting period was 36 years old.

Race

Of the 9,587 inmates covered in the review 3,869 (40.4%) self-identified as white, 1,217 (12.7%) as Indigenous and 1,162 (12.1%) as Black. There were 215 (2.2%) who self-identified as Middle Eastern, 183 inmates (1.9%) as South Asian, 98 (1.0%) as Latino and 130 (1.4%) as East/Southeast Asian and 115 (1.2%) as another race category. There were 682 inmates (7.1%) that self-identified with more than one race. There were 1,916 inmates (20.0%) who did not report race information, or it was unknown.

Religion or spiritual affiliation

There were 2,408 (25.1%) inmates who self-identified as having no religious or spiritual affiliation and 1,519 (15.8%) identified as being Christian. There were 494 (5.2%) who self-identified as having Indigenous spirituality and 431 (4.5%) as Muslim. Of the remaining inmates, self-identified religions included: 74 (0.8%) Sikh, 51 (0.5%) Jewish, 48 (0.5%) Hindu, and 33 (0.3%) Buddhist. There were 275 inmates (2.9%) who self-identified with “another religious or spiritual affiliation” and 925 (9.7%) who self-identified with more than one religious or spiritual affiliation. There were 3,329 (34.7%) inmates covered in the review who did not self-identify with a religious or spiritual affiliation, or it was unknown.