The Quebec government is implementing fresh strategies to prevent contraband from infiltrating its detention centers. One of these initiatives is a 12-month trial program set to commence in September at the Roberval Detention Centre, located 350 kilometers northeast of Montreal, where inmates will be mandated to wear uniforms.
The rationale behind this move, according to the Public Security Ministry’s press release on Thursday, is that eliminating personal clothing will streamline the search process, delineate inmates from staff and visitors, and eradicate any indications of association with criminal factions that could incite violence.
Currently, individuals incarcerated in Quebec detention facilities wear their own clothes. Isabelle Mailloux, the director of the Réseau correctionnel de Montréal, raised concerns about inmates using their clothing as a means to smuggle illicit substances like drugs into the facilities. She highlighted that drugs are often concealed in clothing seams or shoes, with some cases involving soaking clothes in illicit substances to bypass detection.
As part of a broader security enhancement effort in Quebec’s detention centers, the government has allocated $35 million in 2023. The proposed uniform will comprise basic and comfortable attire such as cotton-polyester T-shirts, long-sleeved sweatshirts, sweatpants, sweat shorts, shoes, socks, and underwear. The selection of the Roberval facility for the pilot project was based on its sewing workshop, enabling inmates to craft their own pants.
Quebec’s Domestic Security Minister, Ian Lafrenière, emphasized that the initiative promotes “social reintegration through employment.” While nine other provinces, one territory, and Correctional Service Canada already enforce inmate uniform policies, the extension of this practice across Quebec will hinge on the pilot project’s outcomes.
In addition to the uniform mandate, the government is enhancing disciplinary measures. Amendments to the Règlement d’application de la Loi sur le système correctionnel du Québec, effective from September 28, will empower staff at Quebec’s detention centers to report misconduct in a broader array of situations, including the delivery of prohibited substances and items via drones.
Drones, described by Mailloux as a persistent issue, have been a focal point for government intervention. Statistics from Quebec’s correctional services network reveal a significant drone presence, with 1,521 sightings between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, and 234 sightings from April to June this year. Mailloux underscored the global nature of the drone problem, attributing it to evolving technological advancements and corresponding strategies by incarcerated individuals.
The revised disciplinary framework will permit disciplinary committees to levy harsher penalties for serious infractions like cellphone smuggling or infrastructure damage. These sanctions may entail community service, suspension of canteen privileges, or extended periods of isolation, all while considering the inmates’ physical and psychological well-being.
