The Quebec government is implementing fresh strategies to prevent contraband from infiltrating its detention facilities. A 12-month trial initiative set to commence in September at the Roberval Detention Centre, located 350 kilometers northeast of Montreal, will mandate inmates to wear uniforms. This move aims to streamline searches, differentiate inmates from staff and visitors, and eliminate indicators of affiliation with criminal entities that could incite violence, as stated in a recent news release by the Public Security Ministry.
Presently, individuals detained at Quebec’s correctional facilities wear their personal attire. Isabelle Mailloux, the director of the Correctional Network of Montreal, highlighted issues arising from this practice in recent years. She mentioned instances where inmates utilized their clothing to smuggle contraband such as drugs, often concealing them in clothing seams or shoes, with some resorting to more covert methods like soaking garments in illicit substances.
This uniform requirement marks part of a broader security enhancement endeavor in Quebec’s detention centers, backed by a $35 million government investment in 2023. The designated attire will include basic and comfortable items like cotton-polyester T-shirts, long-sleeved sweatshirts, sweatpants, shorts, shoes, socks, and underwear. The selection of the Roberval facility for the pilot is attributed to its sewing workshop, enabling inmates to craft their pants, promoting social reintegration through employment, according to Quebec’s Domestic Security Minister Ian Lafrenière.
Moreover, the government is instituting stricter disciplinary protocols, with amendments to the Regulations for the Application of Quebec’s Correctional System Law effective from September 28. These updates broaden the scope of misconduct reports that staff can file, encompassing situations involving prohibited items like substances and deliveries via drones. Mailloux emphasized the persistent issue of drone incursions, with 1,521 sightings recorded between April 2025 and March 2026, and 234 sightings from April to June of the current year in Quebec.
The revised disciplinary framework will empower committees to impose harsher penalties for grave offenses such as smuggling cellphones or causing infrastructure damage. Sanctions may include community service, suspension of canteen privileges, or extended isolation periods, taking into consideration the inmates’ physical and mental well-being. The government plans to evaluate the outcomes of the pilot project to determine the potential implementation of mandatory inmate uniforms across Quebec.