By Canadian Press

Dry cells to be banned for women prisoners suspected of carrying contraband in bodies

Apr 11, 2022 | 11:01 AM

OTTAWA — The federal government says it will do away with the controversial practice of confining inmates to dry cells when they are suspected of carrying contraband in their vaginas.

Dry cells are essentially a form of solitary confinement where prisoners suspected of carrying contraband in their bodies are subjected to 24-hour lights and surveillance, and deprived access to running water. 

The idea is that they will eventually pass whatever substance they might be concealing.

Former federal inmate Lisa Adams was subjected to a dry cell for more than two weeks in 2020, before a pelvic exam revealed she was not concealing anything in her body.

She launched a court challenge, in which the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia deemed the practice unlawful and ordered the government to review its legislation.

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In the budget tabled last Thursday, the federal government says it will amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to prohibit the practice for those suspected of concealing contraband in their vaginal cavity. But it makes no mention of doing away with the controversial practice of dry cells altogether.  

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2022.

Laura Osman, The Canadian Press