Follow OCDC on Trial in the Weeks Ahead

Deepan Budlakoti takes the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General to court over conditions of confinement at the Ottawa jail

Ottawa, ON – The suit filed last year by Deepan Budlakoti, who is detained at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre (OCDC), continues October 13th & 14th, November 8th, December 6th & 20th. Mr. Budlakoti is suing the government of Ontario for violations under sections 2A, 7, 8, and 12 of the Charter. The issues the court proceedings will bring to light include segregation and solitary confinement, excessive force, dynamic entry, privacy relating to and access to medical services, food issues at the Ottawa courthouse and in jail, strip searches and mental health.

When: November 4th, 5th, 8th 9th, December 6th & 20th, 10:00am to 4:30pm (approximate time)

Where: Physical attendance is possible at the Ottawa courthouse, but space is limited. Please contact justin.piche@uottawa.ca if you plan to attend in person so that he can confirm whether there is sufficient space for you to attend court or if you should attend the proceedings online. Virtual attendance is possible (see the links below) and encouraged as CPEP members have observed that the Crown and the court treat Mr. Budlakoti more respectfully when there is a large audience.

October 13th & 14th, 2021 https://ca01web.zoom.us/j/62550351126
November 4th, 5th, 8th 9th, 2021 https://ca01web.zoom.us/j/64981712426

Background:

Deepan Budlakoti is an Ottawa-born stateless man detained at OCDC awaiting sentencing for criminal charges dating back to November 2017. Click here to read his most recent op-ed published in July 2021 in the Ottawa Citizen about COVID-19 and the untenable situation imprisoned people have been subjected to at Ottawa’s provincial jail during the pandemic.

Please share this information far and wide with anyone interested in jail conditions, human rights and prison abolition. It is critical that there is as much virtual court attendance as possible.

For more information contact:

Daniel Cayley-Daoust – daniel.cayleydaoust@gmail.com | 819-593-4579

For technical information contact :

Leonardo Russmano – leo@rclpc.ca or admin@rclpc.ca | 613-296-2551

For broader comments on jail conditions at OCDC contact :

Justin Piché, Associate Professor of Criminology, University of Ottawa – justin.piche@uottawa.ca | 613-793-1093