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In its response, CSC rejected any new limits on the use of administrative segregation and said it could not support the changes “without causing undue risk to the safe management of the federal correctional system.”

CSC claims segregation is used in limited circumstances, when there are no reasonable alternatives and for the shortest time necessary.

Critics suggest that is not the case, ­ that on any given day 1,800 prisoners in the federal and provincial system are in solitary confinement; that one in four prisoners spends some time being segregated; and that 16% of inmates are in solitary for more than four months.

Carmen Cheung, senior counsel for the BCCLA, said the organization has been calling for reforms since former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour released a report on Kingston’s women’s prison nearly 20 years ago that recommended prisoners not spent more than 30 consecutive days in solitary and not more than twice a year.

We hope this lawsuit will force a change where no political change has happened

“We hope this lawsuit will force a change where no political change has happened,” said Ms. Cheung.

Canada has been under increasing pressure at home and abroad over its use of solitary confinement. A UN Special Rapporteur has said being placed in segregation for more than 15 days amounts to torture. A UN committee looking at the issue called for Canada to put limits on the amount of time anyone can be placed in solitary confinement. In Canada, the federal prison ombudsman, Howard Sapers, has called for solitary to be banned for inmates with mental illness, suicidal tendencies and a history of self-harm.