Canada expands use of observation and dry cells despite solitary confinement ban
Canadian prisons are increasingly placing inmates in observation and dry cells—isolations that meet the UN definition of solitary confinement—despite a formal ban, with Indigenous prisoners disproportionately affected.
Investigative filings reveal that Canadian federal prisons have markedly increased the deployment of observation cells and dry cells, both of which meet the United Nations’ “Mandela Rules” definition of solitary confinement. Observation cells were used 1,316 times in 2024, a 53% rise since 2018, while dry cells rose from 160 to 291 placements in the same span. The facilities are bare, monitored 24/7, and can be assigned indefinitely without an immediate appeal process.
Indigenous men experienced a more than two-fold increase in observation cell placements between 2018 and 2024, contrasting with a modest rise for white men. Officials argue the cells are a necessary, last-resort tool to prevent self-harm, yet civil-rights groups and former correctional investigators describe the practice as “off the books” segregation that violates international standards. Video footage obtained by the Investigative Journalism Bureau shows forceful transfers and the harsh conditions inside the cells. Calls for reform include proposals for dedicated mental-health units and culturally responsive services, but correctional unions maintain the cells are essential for safety.
Why it matters
The surge in isolation cells raises human-rights concerns and highlights systemic disparities in Canada's correctional system.
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