The Ontario government is adding 18 beds to Napanee’s Quinte Detention Centre, marking an important milestone in the province’s plan to ensure safety and sufficient jail capacity in both the short-and long-term.
The addition will bring the facility’s capacity to over 300 beds.
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is ensuring the sustainability of the correctional system,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “We’re expanding and building facilities that will help frontline staff to do their jobs safely and effectively while increasing capacity to keep violent and repeat offenders off our streets.”
The announcement of more beds at Quinte Detention Centre were part of a broader release by the Ontario government as they look to increase capacity in jails across the province.
In the short term, the government is repurposing and re-opening the Regional Intermittent Centre at Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre in London and the Toronto Intermittent Centre at the Toronto South Detention Centre, adding up to 430 new beds by 2026 to accommodate minimum- and medium-risk inmates.
The Ontario government says increasing jail capacity will be supported by the hiring of up to 200 additional correctional staff which could include nurses, correctional officers and support staff.