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Women lose final bid to keep minimum-security prison open
January 2009
Stark Raven Media Collective
Those being held in Canada’s only minimum-security prison for women have lost their two-year legal battle to keep the jail open.
In September, the Court of Appeal for Ontario ruled that the women's rights would not be violated by moving them to a multi-level prison like Grand Valley in Kitchener.The women appealed that ruling to the Supreme Court of Canada. Last month the court said that they would not hear their appeal.
In response to the ruling, the Correctional Service of Canada has transferred the women from the prison.The Correctional Service of Canada says the minimum-security Isabel McNeill House in Kingston, Ontario is too expensive to operate.
The women argue that the closure violates their constitutional rights. This is because in a multi-level prison they would be treated essentially the same as prisoners classified as medium security. Unlike the Isabel McNeill House, the multi-level prisons are surrounded by razor wire fences and women are under the constant surveillance of cameras.
There are 13 stand-alone men's federal minimum-security prisons across the country. There are now none for women.The Correctional Service of Canada could not say what they will ultimately do with the site. It is a prime piece of real estate located across the street from the former Prison for Women. The Prison for Women was recently sold to Queen's University.
Source articles:
thewhig.com
thewhig.com
Further info on prisonjustice.ca:
Only Women’s Minimum Prison Loses Bid To Stay Open, Appeal to Supreme Court Planned