The Quebec government is implementing new strategies to prevent contraband from infiltrating its correctional facilities. A 12-month trial initiative will mandate inmates at the Roberval Detention Centre, situated 350 kilometers northeast of Montreal, to wear standardized uniforms starting in September.
By eliminating personal clothing, the search process will be streamlined, inmates will be easily distinguished from staff and visitors, and any affiliations with criminal groups that could incite violence will be mitigated, as stated in a recent news release by the Public Security Ministry.
Presently, detainees at Quebec detention centers wear their own attire, which has led to issues in recent years. Isabelle Mailloux, director of the Réseau correctionnel de Montréal, highlighted that inmates have exploited their clothes to smuggle illicit items such as drugs. Mailloux noted that drugs are often concealed in clothing seams or shoes, but innovative methods like soaking clothes in illicit substances have also been attempted by incarcerated individuals.
The uniform ensemble for inmates will comprise basic and comfortable clothing like cotton-polyester T-shirts, long-sleeved sweatshirts, sweatpants, sweat shorts, shoes, socks, and underwear. The choice of the Roberval facility for the pilot project is due to its sewing workshop, where inmates can manufacture their own pants.
Quebec’s Domestic Security Minister Ian Lafrenière emphasized that the initiative aims to foster “social reintegration through employment.” The government has allocated $35 million in 2023 to enhance security in Quebec’s detention facilities.
In addition to the uniform mandate, the government is enhancing disciplinary measures with amendments to the Règlement d’application de la Loi sur le système correctionnel du Québec, effective September 28. These changes will authorize staff at Quebec’s detention centers to report misconduct for a broader range of violations, including the introduction of prohibited substances and items via drones.
Mailloux expressed concerns about the increasing prevalence of drones, labeling them as a persistent issue that authorities have been combatting. Statistics from Quebec’s network of correctional services revealed 1,521 drone sightings at detention centers in the province between April 2025 and March 2026, with 234 sightings reported from April to June of the current year.
Under the new disciplinary system, disciplinary committees will have the authority to impose harsher penalties for severe misconduct, such as smuggling cellphones or damaging infrastructure. Potential sanctions could entail community service, suspension of canteen privileges, or extended periods of isolation, taking into consideration the physical and mental well-being of inmates.
The government indicated that the decision to mandate inmate uniforms across Quebec will be contingent on the outcomes of the pilot project.
