Public Safety Minister Bill Blair has asked the heads of Canada's prison system and parole board to consider early release for some federal inmates to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 behind bars. On Monday, CSC confirmed its first cases of COVID-19 at two federal prisons in Quebec, with both inmates and staff testing positive. Prisoner advocates want early release for some offenders to prevent the spread of COVID-19. "Medical professionals, NGOs, correctional staff and prisoners are acutely aware of the dangers of COVID-19 in prisons. "A system that was already failing to meet the needs of people in their care cannot reasonably claim that they can manage a public health crisis," she wrote.

Source: CBC News March 31, 2020 16:48 UTC