The Quebec government is implementing fresh strategies to prevent contraband from infiltrating its correctional facilities. One of these measures is a 12-month trial project set to commence in September at the Roberval Detention Centre, located 350 kilometers northeast of Montreal. In this trial, inmates will be required to wear standardized uniforms to streamline searches, differentiate them from staff and visitors, and eliminate any indications of ties to criminal groups that could incite violence, as stated by the Public Security Ministry in a recent press release.
Currently, individuals detained in Quebec’s correctional centers wear their own clothes, which has posed challenges, according to Isabelle Mailloux, the director of the Réseau correctionnel de Montréal. Mailloux highlighted that inmates have exploited their personal clothing to smuggle illicit items like drugs, often concealing them in clothing seams or shoes, with some resorting to innovative methods such as soaking clothes in illegal substances.
The introduction of uniforms is part of a broader security enhancement initiative in Quebec’s detention facilities, supported by a $35 million government investment in 2023. The uniform will comprise basic and comfortable attire such as cotton-polyester T-shirts, long-sleeved sweatshirts, sweatpants, shorts, shoes, socks, and underwear. The Roberval facility was chosen for the pilot project due to its sewing workshop where inmates can manufacture their pants.
Quebec’s Domestic Security Minister Ian Lafrenière emphasized that the project promotes “social reintegration through employment.” Notably, nine other provinces, one territory, and Correctional Service Canada already mandate inmate uniform policies. The decision to implement uniform requirements across Quebec will be based on the outcomes of the pilot project.
In addition to the uniform initiative, the government is enhancing disciplinary measures by amending the Règlement d’application de la Loi sur le système correctionnel du Québec, effective from September 28. These changes will empower staff at Quebec’s detention facilities to report misconduct in a wider range of scenarios, including incidents involving prohibited substances and deliveries by drones, which Mailloux described as a persistent issue that authorities have been combatting.
Statistics from Quebec’s correctional services network revealed a significant number of drone sightings at detention centers, with 1,521 drones spotted between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. Moreover, from April to June of the current year, there have been 234 drone sightings. Mailloux emphasized the global challenge posed by drones, noting that advancements in technology drive the evolution of tactics employed by incarcerated individuals.
The revised disciplinary measures will enable disciplinary committees to impose harsher penalties for severe misconduct, such as smuggling cellphones or causing infrastructure damage. These sanctions may include community service, suspension of canteen privileges, or extended periods of isolation, prioritizing the physical and mental well-being of inmates, according to the government’s statement.