12 Percent of Prisoners Diagnosed With Serious Mental Illness, Correctional Service Says

A Correctional Service of Canada vehicle is parked at the Kingston Penitentiary in Kingston, Ont., in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Frank Gunn

Nearly three-quarters of individuals in federal prisons report mental health symptoms, with 12 percent having serious conditions, a Senate committee has heard.

“Roughly 70% of individuals admitted to federal custody report mental health symptoms,” said the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), as first covered by Blacklock’s Reporter. “Of those admitted to federal custody, 36% meet the criteria for a diagnosis of a mental disorder; and 12% meet the criteria for a serious mental illness.”