Holding the Alberta Government Accountable for Unlawful Lockdowns in Provincial Jails
- Amy Matychuk
- Aug 20, 2024
- 2 min read
Class Action launched on Prisoners’ Justice Day: Holding the Alberta Government Accountable for Unlawful Lockdowns in Provincial Jails
CALGARY, ALBERTA (August 12, 2024) –
On August 10th people across Canada came together to recognize Prisoners’ Justice Day. This day, established in 1975 after the horrific death of Eddie Nalon in Milhaven Maximum Security Prison, is a time to bring awareness to all those who have experienced oppression within Canada’s prisons. In Canada, individuals who are incarcerated are subjected to numerous human rights violations including: overcrowding, solitary confinement and strip searches. This treatment is harsh and inhumane.
In 2024, Prison and Police Law and Litco Law are honoring Prisoners’ Justice Day by launching a class action lawsuit on behalf of prisoners subjected to lockdowns in provincial correctional facilities.
The lawsuit asserts that these lockdowns effectively constitute a form of solitary confinement, a practice uniformly deemed unlawful by Canadian courts. The lawsuit alleges that the provincial government's implementation of lockdowns violates prisoners' Charter rights.
The class action aims to hold the government accountable for the ongoing injustices endured by prisoners due to these lockdowns and seeks to end this harmful practice.
Amy Matychuk, a lawyer at Prison and Police Law, highlighted the critical need to address the systemic neglect faced by prisoners:
"Prisoners are among the most vulnerable in our society, and for too long, governmental priorities have overshadowed their rights within correctional facilities. Lockdown procedures are well known to have a profoundly negative impact on the mental health of an already vulnerable population. The Charter protects Canadians against such treatment. Charter rights of Canadians are not left at the entrance of a prison in Alberta. One of the goals of this class action is to put an end to this mistreatment of this group of Canadians and provide redress to those whose rights have been infringed due to the government's persistent use of lockdowns in provincial jails."
This class action marks a significant step towards rectifying systemic violations of prisoner rights and sets a crucial precedent for future cases involving collective rights infringements in correctional facilities.
Human rights abuses within prisons and jails, such as lockdowns, can be fatal and must be stopped.
The full statement of claim is available online at: https://prisonpolicelaw.ca/class-actions
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For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
Amy Matychuk, Lawyer, Prison and Police Law
587-433-7272
Breeya Engel, Litco Law
403-569-6425
