Strip searches of incarcerated persons in Quebec provincial detention facilities
Class action
Nelson Carey, represented by the law firm Trudel Johnston & Lespérance, has filed an application for authorization to bring a class action against the Quebec government concerning the use of strip searches in Quebec provincial detention facilities.
The plaintiff alleges that strip searches carried out on incarcerated persons in provincial detention facilities violate their right to integrity, security, dignity, privacy, to be treated with humanity and respect, to protection against unreasonable searches, and to equality, contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In addition, the plaintiff argues that this also constitutes a civil wrong under the Civil Code of Québec.
This class action seeks compensatory and punitive damages for violations of the group members’ fundamental rights. The application also seeks to have part of section 27 of the Regulation under the Act respecting the Québec correctional system declared invalid so that strip searches are no longer permitted.
Eligibility criteria
You may be a class member if you belong to the following group:
“Group: any incarcerated person who has been subjected to a strip search in a Quebec detention facility since June 16, 2022.
Subgroup: any incarcerated woman who has been subjected to a strip search in a Quebec detention facility since June 16, 2022.
Strip searches conducted at the Detention center of Leclerc in Laval are covered by class action 500-06-001226-238 and are excluded from this class action.”
Summary of the action
On June 16, 2025, the plaintiff filed an application for authorization to institute a class action.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Phone number: 1-855-552-2723
Email: [email protected]