The Quebec government is set to implement new strategies to prevent contraband from infiltrating its correctional facilities. A 12-month trial program 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 decision to introduce uniforms aims to streamline the search process, differentiate inmates from staff and visitors, and eradicate any indicators of association with criminal groups that could incite violence, as stated by the Public Security Ministry in a recent press release. Presently, detainees in Quebec’s detention centers wear their personal clothing, which has led to issues like inmates using their attire to smuggle illicit substances such as drugs, according to Isabelle Mailloux, the director of the Réseau correctionnel de Montréal.
Mailloux highlighted that drug concealment within clothing seams or shoes is a common practice, but more innovative methods, like impregnating garments with illegal substances, are also used. This initiative is part of a broader security enhancement effort in Quebec’s detention facilities, which received a $35 million investment from the government in 2023.
The prescribed uniform will comprise basic and comfortable attire, including cotton-polyester T-shirts, long-sleeved sweatshirts, sweatpants, sweat shorts, shoes, socks, and underwear. The Roberval facility was chosen for the trial due to its sewing workshop where inmates can craft their pants. Quebec’s Domestic Security Minister Ian Lafrenière emphasized that this endeavor promotes social reintegration through employment.
In addition to the uniform mandate, the government is enforcing stricter disciplinary actions. Amendments to the Regulation on the Application of the Quebec Correctional System Act, effective from September 28, will empower detention center staff to report misconduct for a wider array of violations, including the delivery of prohibited items via drones.
Drones have been a persistent challenge, with 1,521 sightings recorded at Quebec detention centers from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, and 234 sightings from April to June of the current year. The evolving drone technology poses a global concern, prompting the government to address this issue continually.
Under the revised regulations, disciplinary committees will have the authority to impose harsher penalties for severe infractions like cellphone smuggling or facility damage, potentially including community service, canteen purchase suspensions, or extended isolation periods. The authorities assure that the proposed sanctions will consider the inmates’ physical and mental well-being.
The decision on expanding the inmate uniform policy statewide will depend on the outcomes of the pilot project, aligning Quebec with nine other provinces and one territory, along with the Correctional Service of Canada, where inmate uniforms are already mandatory.