B.C. settles prison solitary confinement lawsuit for $60 million

The British Columbia government has reached a settlement of up to $60 million to resolve a class-action lawsuit concerning the use of solitary confinement in provincial correctional facilities between April 2005 and October 2025. The lawsuit, filed over seven years ago, alleged that the practice constituted “cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment.” The settlement, approved by the B.C. Supreme Court in October, includes a $30 million “common experience fund” and a $25 million “serious harms fund” – the latter potentially increasing by $5 million depending on the number of eligible claims. Eligible claimants include individuals who spent 15 or more consecutive days in segregation, as well as those with mental illnesses held in solitary confinement. Individuals who suffered “serious harms,” such as new mental illness diagnoses or self-injury, could receive up to $85,000, while others may be eligible for payouts ranging from $3,000 to $91,000. The agreement also mandates policy reforms to improve segregation practices, including increased time out of cell for inmates and enhanced screening for those with mental illnesses, with ongoing meetings between lawyers for both sides to oversee implementation and a report to the court in two years outlining the changes.

(Source：CP24 Toronto)