The Quebec government is implementing new strategies to prevent contraband from entering its correctional facilities. One of these measures is a 12-month trial program at the Roberval Detention Centre, located 350 kilometers northeast of Montreal, where inmates will be required to wear uniforms starting in September.
The decision to introduce uniforms aims to streamline the search process, differentiate inmates from staff and visitors, and eliminate any indications of ties to criminal groups that could incite violence, as stated in a press release by the Public Security Ministry. Currently, detainees in Quebec’s correctional facilities wear their own clothes, which has led to issues such as inmates using their garments to smuggle illicit substances like drugs.
Isabelle Mailloux, the director of the Montreal Correctional Network, highlighted the challenges posed by inmates using clothing to conceal contraband, often hidden in seams or shoes. She emphasized the need for change, citing instances where individuals soaked clothes in illegal substances to bypass detection.
The initiative to introduce uniforms forms part of a broader security enhancement strategy in Quebec’s detention centers, an area where the government allocated $35 million in funding for 2023. The uniform will comprise basic and comfortable attire like cotton-polyester T-shirts, long-sleeved sweatshirts, sweatpants, shorts, shoes, socks, and underwear. The Roberval facility was chosen for the pilot due to its sewing workshop, allowing inmates to produce their pants.
Quebec’s Public Security Minister Ian Lafrenière emphasized the project’s focus on promoting social reintegration through employment. While nine provinces, one territory, and Correctional Service Canada already mandate inmate uniforms, Quebec will evaluate the pilot project’s outcomes before deciding on a broader implementation.
In addition to the uniform initiative, the government is enhancing disciplinary measures with amendments to the regulations governing Quebec’s correctional system, effective from September 28. These changes will empower detention center staff to report a wider range of misconduct, including the introduction of prohibited items via drones. Mailloux described drones as a persistent issue that authorities have been combatting for years.
Statistics from Quebec’s correctional services network revealed a significant number of drone sightings at detention centers, with 1,521 drones spotted between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. Recent data indicated 234 drone sightings from April to June this year, underscoring the evolving challenges posed by technological advancements.
The revised regulations will enable disciplinary committees to impose harsher penalties for serious infractions like smuggling cellphones or causing damage to facilities. These sanctions could involve community service, canteen purchase suspensions, or extended periods of isolation, with a focus on considering the physical and mental well-being of inmates during disciplinary proceedings.