A historic ruling handed down last month by the B.C. Supreme court will now be appealed by the federal government.
The ruling, which struck down Canada's law on indefinite solitary confinement, effectively ended the practice of isolating inmates indefinitely in federal prisons.
However, the federal government believes the ruling needs further clarity from the courts.
The BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) and John Howard Society of Canada (JHSC), who brought the legal challenge to the B.C. Supreme court, are surprised by the decision.
“We find it shocking that our federal government has chosen to appeal this decision when the government came into office on a promise to put an end to indefinite solitary confinement," said Josh Paterson, Executive Director of the BCCLA. "Instead, this appeal shows they intend to fight to save a system that breaks the law and makes our society less safe.”
On Friday, February 16, 2018, the federal government appealed last month's historic judgment that ordered an end to indefinite solitary confinement in prisons across Canada. We will fight this appeal.
— BC Civil Liberties (@bccla) February 19, 2018
More here: https://t.co/al14Lb6C3m#cdnpoli #SolitaryConfinement
Also known as “segregation”, the practice of isolating inmates for up to 23 hours a day was found by the United Nations to be a form of torture when used in excess of 15 days.
According to BCCLA, one out of every four prisoners in Canada’s federal prison system has spent time in solitary confinement but that will no longer be the case.
