THUNDER BAY – NEWS – The Thunder Bay District Jail is slated for replacement. Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General, reconfirmed Ontario’s commitment to build a new, modern correctional complex in Thunder Bay that will keep correctional staff safe and better serve the local community.
“While the troubled financial situation in Ontario has put essential services that people rely on – including community safety – at risk, we are committed to protecting what matters most,” said Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General. “Few things matter more than the security of the people. The new facility in Thunder Bay will ultimately lead to improved public safety, as staff are protected on the job and inmates receive access to comprehensive rehabilitation and are safe while in custody.”
Combining the Thunder Bay Jail and the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre will ensure taxpayer dollars are managed appropriately, as two independent facilities will no longer be needed in the same community.
“Good infrastructure benefits the communities it is built in,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Infrastructure. “The new Thunder Bay Correctional Complex will be designed to minimize risks to staff while also increasing efficiency. Our government’s investment in this facility will ensure it serves the local community safely and effectively.”
Improved inmate tracking, classification and placement, and improved levels of security within the new facility will allow correctional officers to manage the inmate population appropriately and minimize risk to staff.
In addition, the new 325-bed facility will include:
- Multiple housing options to ensure inmates receive supports responsive to their needs while keeping staff, inmate and community safety a top priority
- Rehabilitative programming and healthcare services delivered in a manner that better supports inmate management and improves safety in the facility and community
- Improved management and services of female inmates in custody.
“After decades of neglect, a changing and increasingly complex inmate profile and increasing instances of inmate on staff violence, it’s critical that we take action now to bring real change in corrections and introduce leading-edge interventions that will ensure both staff and community safety,” said Jones. “We will continue to work directly with our frontline staff to ensure they have the resources needed to keep them safe while providing appropriate custody and management of those in our correctional system.”
