Howard Sapers

The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services in Ontario, Canada, has appointed Howard Sapers as an independent advisor on corrections reform to provide advice to the government on the use of segregation and ways to improve the province’s adult corrections system. Sapers, who most recently served as the Correctional Investigator of Canada and Ombudsman for offenders sentenced in federal correctional institutions, will review the use of all forms of segregation in Ontario’s corrections facilities and will identify opportunities for longer-term corrections transformation.

His appointment begins on Jan. 1, 2017 and he will provide an interim report on the use of segregation in Ontario’s adult correctional facilities within 60 days. The interim report will give recommendations on ways to address current issues and challenges related to segregation. This could include additional improvements to build on the government’s recent changes, as well as shorter-term opportunities to reduce the use of segregation. The final report, expected in spring 2017, will help inform the government’s approach to long-term reform in the corrections system.