CPEP’s Blog is an excellent source for up to the minute news, data, research, reports, and commentary about prisons in so-called Canada. It is maintained by criminology professors and students from Carleton University and Ottawa University, along with concerned community members with policy, research and lived experiences pertaining to the Canadian penal system.

Tracking the Politics of Criminalization and Punishment in Canada Commentary that aims to make sense of recent developments in the politics of criminalization and punishment in the Canadian context. Follow @cpepgroup and @justinpicheh on various social media platforms.

  • Delegation - Ottawa Police Services Board Meeting
    by Administrator on October 23, 2023

    Justin Piché, PhDAssociate Professor, Criminology, University of OttawaMember, Criminalization and Punishment Education Project[CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY - 29:45- 34:20]Dear members of the Ottawa Police Services Board:My name is Justin Piché and I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminology at the University of Ottawa, as well as a member of the Criminalization and Punishment Education Project. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you.My delegation today concerns the […]

  • Reported COVID-19 Cases Among People Imprisoned in Ontario Provincial Jails in 2022
    by Administrator on February 2, 2023

    Reported COVID-19 Cases Among People Imprisoned in Ontario Provincial Jails:March 2020 to End-December 2021 (21.5 months) versus 2022End-December 2021- Total reported since the beginning of the pandemic = 2,250 (34.6% of total)End-December 2022 - New cases reported in 2022 = 4,260 (65.4% of total)- Total reported since the beginning of the pandemic = 6,510Reported COVID-19 Cases Among People Imprisoned in Ontario Provincial Jails in 2022 by MonthEnd-January 2022- Newly reported = 1,754- […]

  • Reported COVID-19 Cases Among People Imprisoned in Canadian Federal Penitentiaries in 2022
    by Administrator on February 2, 2023

    Reported COVID-19 Cases Among People Imprisoned in Canadian Federal Penitentiaries:March 2020 to End-December 2021 (21.5 months) versus 2022End-December 2021- Total reported since the beginning of the pandemic = 1,768 (23.6% of total)End-December 2022 - New cases reported in 2022 = 5,729 (76.4% of total)- Total reported since the beginning of the pandemic = 7,497Reported COVID-19 Cases Among People Imprisoned in Canadian Federal Penitentiaries in 2022 by MonthEnd-January 2022- Newly […]

  • Prison Pandemic Papers - Links to Disclosure Exemptions and ATI/FOI Request Forms
    by Administrator on March 9, 2022

    The Prison Pandemic Partnership launched its Prison Pandemic Papers in March 2022. The dataset includes "unpublished government records obtained using access to information [ATI] and freedom of information [FOI] requests submitted to governments across Canada" that "provide insights into the COVID-19 response of federal, provincial, and territorial prison authorities, along with the impact the pandemic has had on imprisoned people and those working in congregate settings of human caging". It is […]

  • Over 22,400 COVID-19 Cases Linked to Jails, Prisons and Penitentiaries in Canada by the End of February 2022
    by Administrator on February 27, 2022

    * Updated 2 March 2022 at 11:20am ET *OVERALLPrisoners = 16,111 (11 deaths reported)Staff = 6,250 (1 death reported)Contractors = 6 Unknown = 61Total = 22,428Canadian Jurisdictions with Reported COVID-19 Cases Linked to their Jails, Prisons and Penitentiaries by the end of February 2022Federal | Correctional Service Canada = 5,189 (3,489 prisoners | 1,700 staff) Newfoundland and Labrador = 22 (22 prisoners | 0 staff)Prince Edward Island = 23 (8 prisoners | 15 staff)Nova Scotia = 147 […]

  • COVID-19 Cases Linked to Territorial Jails and Prisons in Canada (end-February 2022)
    by Administrator on February 27, 2022

     * Updated 27 February 2022 at 2:35pm ET *117 Reported COVID-19 Cases Linked to Territorial Jails and Prisons in Canada as of the end of February 2022 *Prisoners = 51Staff =  15Unknown = 51Total = 117* Data based on figures made publicly available through media reporting. Due a lack of proactive disclosure by territorial governments in Canada and the quality of the data available, it is possible that there are additional laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 amongst territorial prisoners […]

  • COVID-19 Cases Linked to British Columbia Provincial Jails and Prisons (end-February 2022)
    by Administrator on February 27, 2022

     * Updated 27 February 2022 at 2:10pm ET *278 Reported COVID-19 Cases Linked to British Columbia Provincial Jails and Prisons as of the end of December 2021 *Prisoners = 229Staff =  49Total = 278* Data based on figures made publicly available through government, union and media reporting. Due to the quality of the data available (e.g. the last data available is from media reporting on 8 November 2021), it is possible that there are fewer or additional laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 […]

  • COVID-19 Cases Linked to Alberta Provincial Jails and Prisons (end-February 2022)
    by Administrator on February 27, 2022

     * Updated 27 February 2022 at 1:55pm ET *3,015 Reported COVID-19 Cases Linked to Alberta Provincial Jails and Prisons as of the end of February 2022 *Prisoners = 2,543 adults + 19 youthStaff = 451Contractors = 2Total = 3,015* Data based on figures made publicly available through government, union and media reporting. Due to the quality of the data available (e.g. the last cases linked to Alberta provincial jails and prisons were reported by the Edmonton Journal on 28 January 2022), it is […]

  • COVID-19 Cases Linked to Saskatchewan Provincial Jails and Prisons (end-February 2022)
    by Administrator on February 27, 2022

     * Updated 27 February 2022 at 1:40pm ET *1,872 Reported COVID-19 Cases Linked to Saskatchewan Provincial Jails and Prisons as of the end of February 2022 *Prisoners = 1,444 Staff = 608Total = 2,052* The Government of Saskatchewan announced in early-February 2022 that they would no longer be sharing data concerning confirmed cases of COVID-19 amongst provincial prisoners and prison staff (see Saskatoon StarPhoenix - 7 February 2022). The data below is based on figures previously made […]

  • COVID-19 Cases Linked to Manitoba Provincial Jails and Prisons (end-February 2022)
    by Administrator on February 27, 2022

     * Updated: 28 February 2022 at 3:20pm ET *1,433 Reported COVID-19 Cases Linked to Manitoba Provincial Jails and Prisons as of 28 February 2022Prisoners = 941Staff = 492Total = 1,433INSTITUTIONS AND CASESAgassiz Youth CentrePrisoners = 27Staff = 23Total = 50Source: Data MB (28 February 2022)Brandon Correctional CentrePrisoners = 187Staff = 72Total = 259Source: Data MB (28 February 2022) Headingly Correctional CentrePrisoners = 329 Staff = 145Total = 474Source: Data MB (28 February […]