by Web Master | Feb 24, 2026 | News, News Releases
Federal Court application alleges Charter violations in withholding results of internal investigations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 24, 2026
Burnaby, BC – Unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and qiqéyt (Qayqayt) Nations
Today, two individuals with lived experience of incarceration filed a case in Federal Court against Correctional Service Canada (CSC), challenging the agency’s practice of withholding the results of internal reviews when prison officers use force against incarcerated people.
When CSC officers use force, an internal directive — Commissioner’s Directive 567-1 — requires a review to determine whether the officers’ actions complied with the law and with CSC policy. However, the person subjected to force is not informed of the outcome of that review, even when violations are identified.
As a result, the only way an affected person can access CSC’s findings is by filing a request under access to information or privacy legislation. These requests are frequently delayed, sometimes for months or even years, due to chronic backlogs. In practice, this makes it extraordinarily difficult for incarcerated individuals to challenge the use of force, assert their legal rights, or hold CSC accountable.
The litigation, filed in Federal Court, is an application for judicial review of CSC’s use-of-force directive. The applicants will argue that withholding the results of these reviews from the individuals directly affected violates their rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The applicants are represented by Conway Baxter Wilson LLP, with support from Prisoners’ Legal Services.
Media Contacts:
Nicole Kief
Executive Director
Prisoners’ Legal Services
nkief@pls-bc.ca
604-636-0470
Siobhan Morris
Associate
Conway Baxter Wilson LLP
SMorris@conwaylitigation.ca
613.369.2000
by Web Master | Jan 20, 2026 | News
The Board of Directors of West Coast Prison Justice Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Pierre Hawkins as Director of Legal Services at Prisoners’ Legal Services (PLS). In this role, Pierre will oversee the legal work of the organization, including direct legal services, legal information, and strategic litigation.
Pierre established and has led the Public Legal Counsel Program at the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan (JHSS) since 2019, following his tenure as Programs Director at Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan. He brings to PLS significant experience in legal program leadership, strategic litigation, and public policy advocacy.
As Senior Public Legal Counsel, Pierre successfully represented JHSS at the Supreme Court of Canada in John Howard Society of Saskatchewan v. Saskatchewan, a case which advanced constitutional protections across the country for people facing prison disciplinary proceedings. Pierre has also represented incarcerated people and public interest organizations before superior and appellate courts, most notably in R. v. Wilson, 2025 SCC 32; UR Pride v. Saskatchewan, 2025 SKCA 74; R. v. B.J.M., 2024 SKCA 79; and Kupsar v. Regina Provincial Correctional Centre, 2020 SKCA 142.
Pierre joins Nicole Kief, Executive Director, in co-leading the work of PLS to enforce the rights of incarcerated people and advance strategic litigation and advocacy to achieve systemic, anti-carceral change.
by Web Master | Jan 12, 2026 | News
As of October 1, 2025, Suboxone is no longer part of CSC’s National Formulary. Suboxone has been replaced by Sublocade as the first-line treatment option for opioid use disorder (OUD). More information on what you should know about Sublocade here.
by Web Master | Dec 9, 2025 | Submissions
On December 1, 2025, Prisoners’ Legal Services, Canadian Prison Law Association, PATH Legal and the East Coast Prison Justice Society made a joint submission to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commissioner regarding telecommunications systems and services in correctional facilities. You can read the submissions here.
by Web Master | Aug 12, 2025 | News, Uncategorized
Prisoners’ Legal Services is a non-profit society providing legal assistance to people in federal and provincial prisons in British Columbia. We also engage in strategic litigation and advocacy on the prison justice issues brought forward by our clients to achieve systemic, anti-carceral change. We are a team of lawyers and non-lawyers who believe that no one is disposable, and who work alongside and in solidarity with incarcerated people. We witness some of the harshest forms of state violence, and use the legal system’s tools to protect our clients from the abuses and degradations of prison.
We are currently hiring for the following positions:
Director of Legal Services
Human rights and healthcare staff lawyer
Applications due by September 15, 2025.
Prisoners’ Legal Services is located in Burnaby, BC, on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and qiqéyt (Qayqayt) Nations.
