The Ontario government is looking into reopening the Brantford Jail as part of its plan to expand jail capacity.
Solicitor General Michael Kerzner says the move could add 125 beds to the province’s jail system.
The jail, which was build in 1852, was closed in December 2017 due to rising maintenance and operating costs. The closure forced the transfer of approximately 80 inmates and 80 staff to other facilities.
The province announced this spring that it would spend $3 billion over the next 10 years to expand its vastly overcrowded jails.
The plan includes building new jails, expanding existing ones and reopening a few that have closed.
Ontario plans to add nearly 6,000 jail beds by 2050, documents obtained in April by University of Ottawa researchers through freedom-of-information laws show.
The province has been dealing with overcrowded jails for years now.
In September 2023, there was an average of 8,889 people in provincial jails, well over the 7,848-person capacity, data obtained by The Canadian Press shows. Overall, jails were operating at 113 per cent capacity at that time.
The union representing correctional officers has said inmates are triple-bunking in several institutions, while guards are dealing with increased assaults and struggling with their mental health. The Criminal Lawyers Association has said accused individuals are taking longer to get to a bail hearing, contributing to the rise in jail populations.
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