On March 3, the media reported that a staff member at the Edmonton Institution for Women, a federal prison designated for women in Edmonton, Alta., was charged in connection with an historical sexual assault on one of the women incarcerated there. The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) and the Elizabeth Fry Society of … Read more
The Office of the Correctional Investigator of Canada issued data on the number of Indigenous people in Canadian prisons. The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies has consistently observed and spoken out about the over-representation of Indigenous women at all levels of the criminal justice system. “We witness on a regular basis, the harmful, colonial, practice of … Read more
With the support of a lawyer and the Atlantic Elizabeth Fry Societies, three women prisoners in Nova Scotia have launched a lawsuit against Correctional Service of Canada for alleged sexual assault by a CSC guard. The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies implores the government of Canada to implement calls for judicial oversight of CSC and to strengthen … Read more
The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies is encouraged by the results of the Department of Justice report on transforming the justice system in Canada. The survey engaged Canadians on their knowledge and attitudes regarding how justice is administered. The results are overwhelmingly in favor of a problem-solving based approach that allows for multiple sentencing … Read more
The Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in Ewert v Canada, answering the question whether the Correctional Service of Canada’s assessment tools were discriminatory with a disappointing “maybe.” The result is unacceptable to the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies who, in partnership with the Native Women’s Association of Canada, has advocated with and on behalf of … Read more
British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Peter Leask released his decision on the use of administrative segregation in Canadian prisons confirming that the practice is unconstitutional. Unfortunately, “the court missed the opportunity to connect this finding to the reality lived by most, if not all, maximum security women prisoners,” said Savannah Gentile, Director of Advocacy and … Read more
The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) celebrates National Elizabeth Fry Week annually. National Elizabeth Fry Week is always the week preceding Mother’s Day. More information is available online.
In December 2013 the Supreme Court of Canada found portions of the criminal laws relating to prostitution unconstitutional and held that the declaration of invalidity was suspended for 12 months to give Parliament an opportunity to put new laws in place. The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies said Parliament must respond to this decision in 2014 … Read more
The Supreme Court of Canada has released its decision in R.v. Ryan. The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies intervened in the case, in coalition with the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund, to argue that battered women who take steps to use force against their abusers in order to save their children's lives, are … Read more
The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) noted that the Supreme Court of Canada will soon release its decision in the Ryan case. "[CAEFS] appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada last year to argue that abused women should not be criminally convicted when they act to protect themselves and their children from lethal … Read more
