Back to SearchOntario’s police leaders are calling on the Government of Ontario to amend its policy on the use of courthouse cellblocks to allow them to be used after hours by municipal police services. The resolution, which also emphasizes the need to maintain judicial independence regarding the use of court facilities, was passed by OACP members at the association’s 2021 Annual General Meeting held in June.
The Ministry of the Attorney General operates courthouses whose cellblocks are unused after standard courthouse hours. This results in local police services incurring incremental operating and capital costs to operate separate cellblock facilities, including the one-time cost of constructing central cellblock capacity and ongoing operational costs, including prisoner transportation.
Based on historical and current practices, police are responsible for prisoner-holding areas during operational times. Unfortunately, requests by police services to use provincial courthouse cellblocks after hours have typically been declined by local Crown Attorneys due to a perceived need for judicial independence. The OACP is calling on the Government of Ontario to allow for the use of these facilities.
“Police services must always look for ways to work with our justice and government partners to ensure we are accountable to Ontario taxpayers while also delivering the services required to ensure the safety of individuals who must be accommodated in holding facilities. Utilizing courthouse cellblocks better will result in great efficiencies and accountability and better serve those individuals being held in holding facilities,” said Carri-Lynn Holmes, Chair of the OACP Budget, Finance & Asset Management Committee.
OACP Resolutions are available here.
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