Ontario jails set to hit overcrowding record as bail reform looms, data shows

Ontario jails are heading toward a record year for overcrowding, remand populations and lockdowns just as politicians debate bail reforms that could lead to a further influx of accused behind bars, data analyzed by CBC News reveals.

In the first six months of 2025, the jail population averaged 10,800 prisoners, while the province’s jails had a maximum capacity of approximately 8,500 beds.

But most surprising to those who reviewed the data CBC analyzed is the 38 per cent jump in the average number of women incarcerated from 2019 to 2024.

“It's certainly shocking and alarming to see the huge growth in the number of women,” said Nicole Myers, an associate professor of criminology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont.

There are still proportionally more men than women in Ontario jails — roughly nine out of every 10 prisoners is a man.

The data, obtained through freedom of information requests to Ontario’s Ministry of the Solicitor General, breaks down jail populations and lockdowns held in 24 provincial institutions in operation between January 2019 and July 2025.

The figures show close to 82 per cent of all prisoners detained last year were on remand — meaning pre-trial and legally innocent — compared to 74 per cent in 2019.

The highest remand rate is for women — who statistically are accused of fewer violent crimes. More than 85 per cent of women in Ontario jails were on remand in 2024. By comparison, 81 per cent of men were in pre-trial detention.

Researchers, lawyers and advocates say these findings call into question claims made by federal and provincial politicians that Canada’s bail system is too lenient and is a “revolving door” for violent criminals.

They also warn the intention behind “jail not bail” reforms — to crack down on crime — might ultimately fail, as a growing number of judges have already stayed cases or given shorter sentences because of human rights violations stemming from the growing crisis in Ontario jails.

“When serious charges are stayed for any reason, then that runs the risk of impacting the confidence of the public in the administration of justice,” said Lesley Pasquino, head of the Ontario Crown Attorneys’ Association.

The proposed federal reforms are aimed at making it more difficult for repeat and violent offenders to get bail. This push came after high-profile cases in which those accused were out on bail.

“I think this data in so many ways provides a contradictory narrative to what is sort of very commonly being put out there,” said Myers, who examined CBC’s findings.

“It clearly demonstrates that we don't have a lenient bail system, that we are incarcerating thousands and thousands of legally innocent people and that this continues to grow.”