Quebec’s Ministry of Public Safety announced on Thursday, Aug. 13, that a 12‑month pilot program will require all inmates at the Roberval Detention Centre to wear uniforms. The measure is intended to reduce the flow of contraband into the facility.
Under the pilot, each detainee will be provided with a standardized outfit that must be worn while inside the centre. The uniform policy will be enforced by correctional staff throughout the 12‑month period, after which the government will assess its impact on the presence of illegal items within the prison.
The decision follows a broader provincial effort to find new ways to limit the smuggling of prohibited goods into detention centres. Officials have indicated that the uniform requirement is one of several strategies being examined to address the challenge of contraband, which can include weapons, drugs, and other unauthorized materials.
Roberval Detention Centre, located in the town of Robbery in northern Quebec, will be the first institution to implement the uniform system. The pilot does not alter other aspects of daily life for inmates, and no additional security measures beyond the clothing requirement were disclosed.
The province plans to monitor compliance and any changes in contraband incidents throughout the trial. Results from the Roberval experiment could inform future policies across other Quebec prisons if the uniform approach proves effective.
No further details on the design of the uniforms or the enforcement procedures were released at the time of the announcement. The pilot is set to run for a full year, concluding in August 2027, after which a review will determine whether the program will be expanded, modified, or discontinued.