Quebec Unveils New Measures to Combat Contraband in Detention Facilities
The Quebec government is set to implement fresh strategies to prevent contraband from infiltrating its correctional facilities. A 12-month trial initiative will be launched at the Roberval Detention Centre, located 350 kilometers northeast of Montreal, where inmates will be mandated to wear uniforms starting in September.
The rationale behind this move, as outlined by the Public Security Ministry in a recent press release, is to streamline the search process, differentiate inmates from staff and visitors, and eliminate any indications of affiliation with criminal groups that could incite violence.
Currently, detainees in Quebec facilities are allowed to wear their personal clothing, a practice that has led to challenges in recent times. Isabelle Mailloux, the director of the Réseau correctionnel de Montréal, highlighted that inmates have exploited their attire to smuggle illicit substances, such as drugs. Mailloux pointed out that drugs are often concealed in clothing seams or shoes, but innovative methods, like soaking clothes in illegal substances, have also been employed.
The aim of this pilot initiative is to enhance security within Quebec’s detention centers, an area where the government has allocated a significant investment of $35 million in 2023. The proposed uniform will comprise basic and comfortable garments including cotton-polyester T-shirts, long-sleeved sweatshirts, sweatpants, sweat shorts, shoes, socks, and underwear.
The selection of the Roberval facility for the trial is based on its existing sewing workshop, where inmates can manufacture their own pants. Quebec’s Domestic Security Minister Ian Lafrenière emphasized that this initiative promotes “social reintegration through employment.”
In line with this development, the government plans to evaluate the outcomes of the pilot project before deciding on the broader implementation of inmate uniforms across Quebec.
Enhanced Disciplinary Measures and Drone Control
In addition to the uniform mandate, stricter disciplinary actions are being enforced. Amendments to the Règlement d’application de la Loi sur le système correctionnel du Québec, effective from Sept. 28, will empower staff at Quebec’s detention centers to report misconduct in a wider range of scenarios, including instances involving banned items delivered by drones.
Mailloux described drones as a persistent challenge that the government has been combatting for several years. Data from Quebec’s correctional services network revealed 1,521 drone sightings at detention centers between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, with 234 more sightings reported from April to June this year.
The updated disciplinary protocols will enable committees to impose harsher penalties for serious infractions, such as smuggling cellphones or causing damage to infrastructure. Sanctions may involve community service, suspension of canteen privileges, or extended isolation periods, all while considering the physical and mental well-being of the inmates.
