The Current Catch 22: A CBC documentary
Dec 15, 2025
Julie Ireton, a CBC senior investigative reporter, dives into the troubling realities of jail overcrowding in Ontario. She discusses the heart-wrenching experiences of inmates like Sue, who face unsanitary conditions and trauma inside overcrowded facilities. The conversation highlights the urgent need for bail reforms and alternatives to incarceration, championed by voices like Senator Kim Pate. Ireton also shares stories of those suffering health crises in custody, revealing the precarious balance between obtaining help and experiencing harm in jail.
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Rising Jail Populations, Static Capacity
- Ontario jails have thousands more people than a few years ago while bed capacity stayed largely the same.
- Overcrowding correlates with more violence, lockdowns, and complaints about inadequate health care.
Sue's Rapid Descent Into Jail Cycle
- Sue, who spent almost four months at OCDC, describes cold steel, harsh conditions, and intrusive processing.
- She went from no record to multiple OCDC stays within six months as her addiction and environment worsened.
Suicide Watch Turned Segregation
- Sue recounts being placed on suicide watch and put into a segregation cell with no blanket and constant bright lights.
- She describes sewage backup and being denied basic comforts while undergoing severe withdrawal and despair.
