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The number of lockdowns at Ottawa’s troubled jail more than tripled last year, soaring from 43 full and partial lockdowns in 2014 to 147 in 2015.

The staggering year-over-year increase at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre had 69 full lockdowns of the entire jail and 78 partial lockdowns that confined inmates in either a wing or unit of the jail to their cells for hours or days at a time, according to Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services statistics.

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The total has also skyrocketed from just three years earlier, when the number of lockdowns related to staffing shortages could be counted on one hand. There were just four staff-related lockdowns in 2012, and only 15 in 2013.

The lockdowns frequently result in family visits being cancelled, the cancellation of rehabilitative programming, and restrictions on time outside in the yard.

“Unfortunately, lockdowns are necessary at times, to keep both staff and inmates safe, and can be caused by a variety of reasons, including a search of the institution, unexpected staff absences, or for security reasons,” said Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services spokesman Brent Ross in an email.