FAQ · Canada
What types of correctional facilities are there in Canada?
In Canada the directory distinguishes these categories: Prisons and penitentiaries (102), Local and county jails (20), Juvenile detention centers (17), Women's prisons (7), Immigration detention (3), Forensic psychiatric facilities (1). Each type has its own regime, and who may visit and which procedures apply also vary.
Examples by type
Prisons and penitentiaries 102
Prisons and penitentiaries are establishments where people sentenced by a final judgment serve their sentence and, depending on the country, also where people await trial. They are usually organised into units or regimes with different security levels and include areas for healthcare, education, work and rehabilitation activities.
- Abbotsford Community Corrections (Abbotsford)
- Bath Institution (Loyalist)
- Bowden Institution (Red Deer County)
- CSC - Joyceville Institution (Kingston)
Local and county jails 20
Local jails, county jails and pre-trial detention facilities mainly hold people awaiting trial or serving short sentences, and they usually depend on local or provincial authorities. Because of their function, admissions and releases are more frequent than in a penitentiary and visiting procedures may differ.
- Calgary Remand Centre (Calgary)
- Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre (Ottawa)
- Quinte Detention Centre (Greater Napanee)
- Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre (Sault Ste. Marie)
Juvenile detention centers 17
Juvenile centers house adolescents and young people who have committed offences. Their approach is mainly educational and rehabilitative, with teams of educators, psychologists and social workers, and with specific visiting and communication rules for minors.
- Calgary Young Offender Centre (Calgary)
- Nova Scotia Youth Centre (Waterville)
- Prince George Youth Custody Centre (Prince George)
- Youth Forensic Psychiatric Services (Langley)
Women's prisons 7
Women's prisons, or women's units, are intended for the female prison population. They usually offer adapted services, such as specific healthcare and, in some systems, spaces for mothers with young children, depending on each country's regulations.
- Edmonton Institution for Women (Edmonton)
- Alouette Correctional Centre for Women (Maple Ridge)
- Grand Valley Institution For Women (Kitchener)
- Nova Institution for Women (Truro)
Immigration detention 3
Immigration detention centers hold foreign nationals administratively, not as a criminal penalty, while their immigration status or removal is being resolved. They are not equivalent to a prison: their regime, time limits and the rights of the people held depend on each country's immigration law.
- British Columbia Immigration Holding Centre (Surrey)
- Centre de surveillance de l'immigration de Laval (Laval)
- Greater Toronto Area Immigration Holding Centre (Toronto)
Forensic psychiatric facilities 1
Forensic psychiatric facilities and units care for people with mental disorders who are under a court order. They combine custody and treatment, with specialised health staff, and usually apply stricter access and visiting procedures.
- Regional Psychiatric Centre (Saskatoon)