Prison for Women (Kingston, Ontario) explained

Prison for Women
Location:	Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates:	44.2225°N -76.5133°W
Status:	Closed
Classification:	Maximum
Opened:	1934
Closed:	2000
Managed By:	Correctional Service of Canada
Prisoners:	Karla Homolka

The Prison For Women ("P4W"; French: '''Prison des femmes'''^[1]), located in Kingston, Ontario, was a Correctional Service of Canada prison for women that functioned at a maximum security level from 1934 to 2000.

Background

The first female inmates arrived on January 24, 1934. Before this date, maximum security female offenders were housed in the Female Department of the maximum security Kingston Penitentiary located across the street.^[2]

Beginning in 1995, female inmates were gradually transferred to other federal correctional institutions. On May 8, 2000, the last female inmate was transferred away from the P4W.^[3]

In January 2008, Queen's University took ownership of the former site of the Prison for Women. The property is 8.1acres in size. The university archives were originally slated to be housed there once renovations were completed, but this is no longer the case.^[4] The transformation of the property included the demolition of three of the four stone security walls.^[5] In June 2018 Queens University sold the site to ABNA Investments Ltd.^[6] In 2021 Signature Retirement Living announced plans to turn the property into a seniors community.^[7] In February 2023 it was announced that this plan had been cancelled and that the property would instead be developed into a mixed-use neighbourhood.^[8]

The institution, and several women who were incarcerated there, were profiled in Janis Cole and Holly Dale's 1981 documentary film .^[9]

Controversy

The Prison for Women was closed following a number of controversial incidents. LSD was administered to inmates at the prison as part of tests that are today considered to be ethically dubious.^[10] As well, a riot at the prison in 1994 resulted in Justice Louise Arbour, then of the Ontario Court of Appeal heading up what became known as the Commission of Inquiry into Certain Events at the Prison for Women in Kingston which found that the treatment of prisoners at the facility had been "cruel, inhumane and degrading".^[11] Routinely overclassified in their security category,^{[12] [13]} Indigenous inmates constituted a considerable proportion of the inmate population and reported particularly violent treatment by prison staff.^[14]

Directors

• 1934–1944 Ms. Edith A. Robinson, Supervising Matron^[15]
• 1944–1950 Miss Amelia May Gibson, Supervising Matron
• 1950–1960 Miss Lorraine L. Burke, Supervising Matron
• 1960–1966 Miss Isabel J. McNeill, Superintendent
• 1966–1970 Mr. Donald Clarke, Warden
• 1970–1972 Mr. C.A.M. Edwards, Warden
• 1972–1980 Mr. Doug Chinnery, Warden
• 1980–1987 Mr. George Caron, Warden
• 1987–1994 Ms. Mary Cassidy, Warden
• 1994–2000 Ms. Thérèse LeBlanc, Warden

Notable prisoners

• Evelyn Dick - Convicted of manslaughter in the death of her infant son
• Karla Homolka – Transferred to Joliette Institution after P4W closed.^[16]
• Ann Hansen – Canadian anarchist and former member of Squamish Five.

Notes and References

1. "Projet de vérification de la dotation mixte 2. Contexte." Correctional Service of Canada. October 8, 1999. Retrieved on August 6, 2016. See English page
2. http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/pblct/brochurep4w/4-eng.shtml "The Closing of the Prison for Women in Kingston"
3. http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/pblct/brochurep4w/1-eng.shtml "The Closing of the Prison for Women in Kingston"
4. Web site: Library and Archives Master Plan – Executive Summary. 25 September 2015. 26 February 2016.
5. http://qnc.queensu.ca/story_loader.php?id=46e6d127cf889 Queen's Acquires former Prison for Women Site (Press Release)
6. News: Nease . Kristy . Developer eyes Kingston's shuttered women's prison . 25 June 2024 . CBC . Jun 26, 2018.
7. News: MacAlpine . Ian . Seniors residence could be in former prison site's future . 25 June 2024 . The Kingston Whig Standard . Jan 28, 2021.
8. Web site: Union Park February 2023 Update . Union Park Kingston . 25 June 2024.
9. "Prison for Women captures the sorrow". The Globe and Mail, September 10, 1981.
10. Kathleen Cranley Glass, "Questions and Challenges in the Governance of Research Involving Humans: A Canadian Perspective" in Trudo Lemmens & Duff R. Waring, ed., Law and Ethics in Biomedical Research: Regulation, Conflict of Interest and Liability (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2006) 35 at 36–37.
11. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/womens-prison-riot-report Women's Prison Riot Report
12. Monture-Angus, P. (2000) Aboriginal Women and Correctional Practice: Reflections on the Task Force on Federally Sentenced Women. IN: Hannah-Moffat, K. and Shaw, M. (eds.) (2000) An Ideal Prison? Critical Essays on Women’s Imprisonment in Canada. Pp 52–60.
13. Faith, K. (1995). Aboriginal women's healing lodge: Challenge to penal correctionalism? The Journal of Human Justice. Vol. 6 (2). Pp 79–104.
14. Sugar, F. and Fox, L. (1989). Nistum Peyako Seht'wawin Iskwewak: Breaking chains. Canadian Journal of Women and the Law. Vol 3 (2). Pp 465–482.
15. http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/pblct/brochurep4w/17-eng.shtml List of Prison for Women Directors
16. "Key events in the Bernardo/Homolka case." CBC News. June 17, 2010. Retrieved on August 6, 2016.