Latest news with #inmates
CBC
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Quebec to detain trans inmates based on anatomical sex, not gender
Transgender inmates in Quebec will now be incarcerated in detention facilities according to their anatomical sex, not their gender. On Wednesday, the Quebec government announced changes which focus on ensuring "fairness in the treatment of all inmates," said François Bonnardel, Quebec's minister of public security, in an online news release. Previously, transgender inmates could ask to be incarcerated in the detention facility of their choice. For security reasons, they could also choose to be isolated from the general population in both their accommodation sector and during social reintegration programs. The announcement follows the case of Levana Ballouz, a trans woman who was convicted of murdering her partner Synthia Bussières and their two children Éliam Al-Ballouz, 5, and Zac Al-Ballouz, 2, in 2022. Ballouz, 38, was known as Mohamad Al Ballouz at the time of the charges. Once convicted, she made a request to serve her time in a federal women's prison. The request was denied and she is currently being held in a men's prison. Her case sparked a debate over where trans inmates should serve time. The Quebec government says the new guideline announced this week promotes safety and access for transgender inmates to social reintegration services and socialization. "Safety must always come first, for the benefit of correctional officers, our fellow citizens and those incarcerated," said Bonnardel in the online news release. Sylvie Guertin, the mother of Bussières who was killed, says she received a call from Bonnardel informing her about the new directive on Tuesday. "I said 'oh my God.' I was very happy to hear the news. It really touched me," said Guertin, clutching her chest. "They heard me." She says the minister was inspired by her plea. "He said 'it's not right that a man who killed a woman and then two children is going to go to a women's prison,'" recalled Guertin. From the start, she was against Ballouz's plea to be placed in a women's prison, especially considering the violent nature of the crimes committed against her daughter and grandchildren. Celeste Trianon says she thinks Ballouz's case certainly played a significant role in the government's decision to go forward with this directive. A trans advocate and legal clinic operator in Montreal, Trianon says she understands the logic of wanting to prevent people from exploiting women in prisons. But she added that a case can "incite fear" even though there are solutions to approaching tricky situations. "We cannot just like put one model template of like what a trans person is and apply to everyone," she said. "My initial reaction was utter disgust at seeing such blatant transphobia being pushed forward." 'I don't see how they could justify it,' says lawyer Alexandra Paquette, a prison lawyer and president of the Association des avocats Cartéralistes du Québec, says this move is a step back for fundamental rights. "From what we understand … if your anatomy is male genitals, you're going to have to have the surgery in order to get to a female institution," said Paquette. "[That] does not correspond to the concept of gender identity." She notes that in 2017, the federal government made it possible for people to request to be incarcerated in the institution that corresponds to their gender identity. Most provinces have since adopted similar policies at provincial jails, but Paquette says a policy in Quebec has been long awaited. In the meantime, she says cases have been resolved on a case-by-case basis. Quebec's incarcerated trans population represents 0.1% With the incarcerated transgender population representing only 0.1 per cent of the prison population in Quebec — just six people — Paquette says the government's energy could have instead been used to improve staffing and resource issues in detention centres. "The provincial government, it's a very conservative way to write those type of instructions," said Paquette. "I don't see how they could justify it." Amy Matychuk, an Alberta-based lawyer at a prison justice and police misconduct law practice, says there are many transgender people who will choose not to seek any sort of surgical modification to their body, but still do not identify as the sex they were assigned at birth. Requiring people to go to an institution based on their sexual characteristics is not a directive that will prevent violence against trans people, she says. "And it's also not a policy that's necessarily going to protect other inmates or correctional officers," said Matychuk, noting there's no good data showing that these kinds of policies actually protect anyone. According to the office of Quebec's public security minister, there will still be accommodations for trans inmates. Training will also be provided to prison guards.
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Recorded phone calls capture plans to shoot drugs into Fayette County Jail
Audio recordings between inmates at the Fayette County Jail and suspects outside show their conversations about their alleged attempt to smuggle drugs into the jail with a bow and arrow. Last week, jail staff found an arrow stuffed with cocaine outside the jail that had apparently been shot toward a rec window in an attempt to get the drugs inside. This week, four people were charged, including two inmates already in the jail who allegedly helped come up with the plan. Once jail staff found the arrow, the warden said they immediately began checking surveillance video and listening to inmate phone calls, which are recorded. That's when the jail said they found several phone calls where at least four people are caught discussing their plan to shoot the drugs into the jail using a crossbow. In one of the calls, you can hear an inmate say, "What do you think about that?" The person on the other line can then be heard saying, "It's possible. It can happen," going on to say, "I need a cross... the only thing I don't have is a crossbow. I need a crossbow. One with a little power behind it. Gonna have at least 200 pounds of draw." In another call, an inmate can be heard telling someone, "Make sure that goes through! Get your a** in the car and take care of the business! You hear that, bro?" The suspect is then heard saying, "It's about to be done here in a minute!" Police said Amanda Frey and Seth Stepich are the two suspects identified on the other end of the call. According to police paperwork, both Frey and Stepich are caught on video during a call with inmates Alfonso Pugh and Charles Smith discussing the plan. "It appears that (Frey and Stepich) were on a property across the road from the jail and fired this arrow across Route 21 attempting to get it into a window," said Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele. Aubele said Stepich is the one who shot the crossbow. Before the attempt, the four are heard using code, allegedly discussing how to stuff the bolt with cocaine. "You know what I was thinking? You can, them things that you guys are getting for the kids and stuff, you can crush them things. Crush them down and put them in Saran Wrap. Wrap them up like that," an inmate said. "OK. Alright," Frey could be heard saying. "Then Chris can do them like that. Put them in there so they got Saran Wrap, but crushed. Fill it all the way up," the inmate said. According to police paperwork, during a recorded jail call between Smith and Frey, Frey can be seen cutting a rubber glove and placing an unknown item into it and then stuffing it into the end of an arrow shaft. "We often see people talking in code, using street names, things of that nature," Aubele said. "But I will say that the jail calls, the surveillance that we have reviewed to this point, is extremely fruitful for us, and has been instrumental in bringing these charges." Police said Frey and Stepich allegedly got the crossbow from a man in Smithfield. KDKA-TV reached out to him to learn if he knew what they were using it for, but never heard back. "It is possible, based on the investigation, that there will be further charges forthcoming against other individuals," Aubele said. Since the attempt, Frey has been arrested and is now behind bars. Police said they have a warrant for Stepich's arrest. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call Uniontown police. "People are gonna try to do whatever they can to get illegal drugs and contraband into our jails. But time and time again, our facility has been tested, and we have passed every test," Aubele said. "I think that the fact that these individuals took these steps and tried this way to get it in really speaks volume to the security measures that we have taken to this point. Because at other times throughout the history of Fayette County, it's been really easy to get drugs and contraband in our facilities, and that has changed again. Remarkable job being done by our security team at the jail as well as our Uniontown police."
Forbes
3 days ago
- Forbes
Bureau Of Prisons Retracts Rule, Truly Expands Halfway House
Each year, thousands of federal prisoners are released to halfway houses to start their life anew. ... More The BOP has struggled to keep up with capacity In May, Bureau of Prisons (BOP) distributed a memorandum stating that inmates who have earned 365 days of First Step Act (FSA) credits for prerelease custody are not eligible for additional prerelease time under the Second Chance Act. Further, it stated that those who had shorter sentences, under 4 years, and who had a home to stay in, could only get home confinement under the Second Chance Act. That limitation, 10% of the sentence imposed up to a maximum of 6 months, meant that many minimum and low security inmates would stay in institution correctional facilities for much longer. There are two components to the transition from the prison institution to the community. The first is a stop at a halfway house, which are operated by for-profit and non-profit entities that provide staffing to care for and monitor returning inmates. These inmates come from every BOP security level from minimum security campers to those coming from high security US Penitentiaries. The accommodations are modest with a bed, perhaps a television and some delivered meals for breakfast and dinner. Those in halfway houses are expected to have a job during the day. Inmates can earn passes to go home on weekends beginning on Fridays and returning on Sundays. The other component is home confinement, which allows an inmate to live in their own home, go to work and be subjected to monitoring by an ankle bracelet or some special cellphone. Home confinement is capped at 6 months depending on the sentence length but many in prison long to be in the community sooner to earn wages and be closer to their family members. This combination of halfway house and home confinement has been used for decades by the BOP but the FSA allowed inmates to earn an unlimited amount of prerelease custody through participation in programs and productive activities. This obviously benefits those with longer prison terms. However, limitations in capacity at these halfway houses, BOP funding and policy implementation has caused a backlog leaving inmates in expensive institutions much longer than necessary. Director William Marshall III issued an internal memorandum to all wardens in the BOP stating, 'To be clear, FSA [First Step Act] and SCA [Second Chance Act] authorities are cumulative and shall be applied in sequence to maximize prerelease custody, including home confinement (HC). Residential Reentry Center (RRC) bed availability/capacity shall not be a barrier to HC when an individual is statutorily eligible and appropriate for such placement.' This directive given in the memorandum represents a bold departure from earlier efforts by the BOP to restrict prerelease custody and it is the first time that the BOP has recognized the word 'shall' in the context of placing eligible inmates into halfway house and home confinement. Previously, the BOP has stated that any move to prerelease custody was based on availability of halfway house space. While no specifics were given in the memorandum as to expansion of halfway house capacity, the BOP must have a plan in place. In fact, when the BOP was still searching for a new Director and Deputy Director, it issued a memorandum stating that prerelease custody was going to be curtailed because of budgetary concerns. That memorandum was overturned as well. The BOP's Office of Public Affairs issued a press release concerning the changes and stated the following key points (bold print was emphasized by BOP): FSA Earned Time Credits and SCA eligibility will be treated as cumulative and stackable, allowing qualified individuals to serve meaningful portions of their sentences in home confinement when appropriate. Conditional Placement Dates—based on projected credit accrual and statutory timelines—will drive timely referrals, not bureaucratic inertia. Stable housing and community reintegration readiness, not past employment, will guide placement decisions. RRC bed capacity limitations will not be a barrier to Home Confinement when an individual is statutorily eligible and appropriate for such placement. Fully implementing the FSA depends on a place to either house or monitor inmates in the community. That capacity comes from halfway houses. The BOP faces significant challenges regarding the adequacy of its halfway house capacity. These centers play a crucial role in reintegrating inmates into society by providing structured environments that facilitate employment, counseling, and other reentry services. Despite the essential function of RRCs, the BOP has struggled to meet the growing demand for these facilities. Reports indicate that the BOP's RRC population has often exceeded contracted capacity, with some facilities operating at over 100% capacity. This overutilization has led to challenges in providing adequate services and accommodations. Moreover, the BOP's efforts to expand RRC capacity have been hindered by various factors, including zoning difficulties and delays in facility openings. The BOP has traditionally had a communication problem between the central office leadership who make the policy and the case managers who implement that policy on the ground. This is particularly true of the FSA. Case managers are responsible for overseeing the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates, including developing individualized treatment plans, monitoring progress, and recommending changes to custody levels. They also facilitate communication between inmates and the courts, manage security concerns, and assist with transitioning inmates to community-based programs such as halfway houses. That transition and when to start the process for transitioning the inmate back into society falls on the shoulders of the case manager. With FSA and Second Chance Act, the date a person leaves prison is very much a calculation that everyone needs to understand. It has also been unequally applied across institutions where some case managers have been reluctant to implement policies for unknown reasons. That is not a problem that should be on the case manager, that is a leadership problem that has existed for years as 122 institutions essentially are self-contained prisons with different leaders, wardens, who have their own interpretation of policy. This inconsistency of implementing a law has been the achilles heel of the BOP since the FSA was passed. The key to success of this policy will be based on communication to the staff. It is the only way the FSA can live up to its purpose to return many to the community sooner so that they can complete their sentence in a way that respects the law, keeps communities safe and returns citizens who are ready to rejoin society with purpose. Advocacy groups have routinely cheered on the BOP based on memorandums that tout reform, but later look at results with disappointment. Measured results in cost savings and lower recidivism rates are the key to FSA success. I reached out to Rabbi Moshe Margaretten, President of Tzedek Association and one of the primary advocates for implementation of the FSA, who told me, 'I want to express my deepest admiration and gratitude to the BOP for today's outstanding announcement. Under the exceptional leadership of Director Marshall, this bold and thoughtful policy marks a watershed moment for meaningful second chances in our country.' Rabbi Margaretten said that he sees this as the BOP's clear commitment to fully implementing both the FSA and the Second Chance Act and that the new guidance was done with compassion, clarity, and courage. He also noted, 'This is nothing short of inspiring. By stacking eligibility under both statutes, focusing on stable housing instead of outdated employment requirements, and removing artificial barriers to home confinement, this guidance embraces the true intent of the law: helping men and women safely return home and rebuild their lives." The BOP has struggled to find quality leadership to change the culture and get better results, which explains why the agency reached outside for new leadership. It was Donald Trump who signed the FSA into law in December 2018. During the Biden administration, BOP leadership spoke of milestones implementing the law but fell far short of expectations by holding people in prison longer than the law allowed. They set themselves up for failure by not expanding resources, like halfway houses, to meet the increased demand. In the BOP's June 2024 report on the FSA it stated that there have been no cost savings associated with the implementation of the law, something that was a cornerstone to the law's passing. This same statement has been in all previous BOP reports on FSA. The BOP seems to acknowledge their problems now with Director Marshall in charge. The BOP's press release stated, 'This clarification reflects the Bureau's commitment to both the letter and the spirit of the First Step Act and Second Chance Act. By maximizing both authorities where appropriate, we are expanding opportunities for successful reentry while maintaining our commitment to public safety. As indicated previously, this directive is rooted in the principle of smart, fair criminal justice reform—reform that began when President Donald J. Trump disrupted entrenched political paralysis and signed the FSA into law, delivering the most significant overhaul to the federal justice system in a generation.' The memorandum is going to be well received by inmates and their families. However, the BOP has a history of slowly implementing programs that favor inmates but quickly adopting restrictions that keep them in prison longer. The Trump administration continues to be one that looks for results among those appointed to serve and it will be up to BOP leadership to deliver on this one as the directive is clear. It is the implementation of this directive that will be the next challenge.
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
'Floodgates' opened on Long Lartin prison drones
A former prison officer at a high-security jail where a member of staff was recently stabbed by an inmate, has said the "floodgates" have been opened on the use of drones to smuggle in weapons and drugs. A 25-year-old prison officer was stabbed at Long Martin on 30 May and had to undergo emergency surgery. At the time, a source told the BBC the knife used was "not a prison-made weapon".A former officer at Long Lartin, who we are calling Adam, said the problem had got worse in recent years, with drones coming in "left, right, and centre".In response, the government said it had "inherited a prison system in crisis - overcrowded, with drugs and violence rife", but was addressing the problems. "We are gripping the situation and clamping down on illicit items through X-ray body scanners and restricted fly zones for drones, " a Ministry of Justice spokesperson said the extent of drone use had initially come as a surprise."We knew it could happen in city prisons without high funding, like Hewell and Birmingham, but not in high-security prisons," he said. "But the floodgates have opened.""We used to smell a bit of weed at night time - you'd identify the cell and put that person in for a drug test."But it got so bad, you could be walking up the corridors to the wings and it could stink of weed." The former prison officer said inmates would make their own weapons "out of anything", including melting down razor blades or sharpening tooth he said these makeshift weapons were not as dangerous as the knives that were being flown in.A spokesperson for the Prison Officers' Association (POA) told the BBC it had warned governments for some time "about the dangers posed by the use of drones to deliver contraband such as drugs, mobile phones, weapons into jails". "This is unquestionably increasing the risks to staff, and destabilising prisons," they added."Without action, it is only a matter of time until a firearm is delivered to a prison by drone." In a 2023 report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons, after an unannounced visit of Long Lartin in December 2022, an inspector said: "The prison had good defences against the ingress of drugs through drones or throwovers."However, by January 2025, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, called for "urgent action" to tackle drones at HMP Long Lartin and HMP Manchester following inspections in September and October 2025 Long Lartin report said: The risks are clear for a jail that has, in effect, ceded the airspace above it to serious organised crime." Fifty per cent of Long Lartin inmates who responded to a survey by the inspectorate also said it was easy to get drugs and alcohol, which the report said "was an astonishing rate for a Category A prison". Attacks on staff The 25-year-old prison officer who was attacked in May is now recovering at home after having emergency surgery, according to a social media post made by his who knows the victim, told the BBC: "He's a good kid - keen and enthusiastic. He's not an idiot, he's not mean and nasty."However, the attack on him is not an isolated incident.A Freedom of Information (FOI) request sent by the BBC to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed Long Lartin had 35 incidents over the past five years in which officers missed at least a week of work either following a physical assault or through an injury sustained while restraining an inmate. In 2022 alone, 13 incidents had to be reported by the prison to the HSE. This included an officer suffering burns after a prisoner threw boiling water over them, while another received an inch-deep puncture wound to the neck after visiting a prisoner's another case, an officer was "choked out of consciousness" by a prisoner after responding to an emergency one occasion, Adam said a senior governor had her jaw broken by an attacks took place in 2024, including an officer being knocked out after being punched in the head and kicked by a prisoner while supervising his move to a mentioned a number of factors to the BBC that he believed were making the environment more dangerous to said a full lockdown search of the jail had not been performed since the Covid pandemic, and that inmates could hide weapons in places guards would be unable to find during basic checks due to screwdrivers being flown into the prison - making it easier to hide contraband in furniture. Adam also claimed there were no thorough searches conducted after drones would be seen over the attacks did happen, Adam said there were rarely significant said staff had "very little faith" in the official adjudication process, intended to deal with such incidents involving inmates. 'The job's not worth it' Adam said the situation at Long Lartin had got "worse and worse" over the years, with staff not feeling safe at told the BBC that one governor even said "prisons aren't a place where you're supposed to feel safe" and that they would be surprised if staff at work felt safe. This response was made in reply to concerns about proposals to have just one uniformed officer in workshops with inmates, led by civilians."More and more experienced staff are saying the job's not worth it," Adam MOJ told the BBC: "We take the safety and wellbeing of staff extremely seriously."To further protect our hardworking staff, front-line prison officers working in the highest risk areas will be given protective body armour to keep them safe from harm."They also said the prison service was working with police to deter illegal drone use around prisons, and that they were investing targeted countermeasures such as improvements to windows, netting and grilles, to stop drones from successfully delivering cargo such as drugs and weapons. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
CNA
13-06-2025
- CNA
Offenders serving community sentences given wrist bands instead of ankle tags to reduce stigma
Offenders serving their sentences in the community can now be issued a tracking device on their wrists that looks like a smartwatch, instead of traditional ankle tags. These GPS-enabled devices help the Singapore Prison Service monitor inmates' movements. The new wrist tags were rolled out to help reduce stigma and meet their lifestyle needs. Both the wrist and ankle tags cost about the same to produce and operate with the same technology. Aslam Shah reports.
