Federal Administrative Segregation Class Actions

If you were placed in Administrative Segregation in a federal penitentiary you may be entitled to receive money.  Three separate class actions lawsuits have ended with the Courts finding that the rights of inmates were violated.  A global award of approximately $28 million is available to pay eligible claimants who make a claim.  You may also be eligible to make a claim for additional compensation.

To submit a claim, you must meet one of the following criteria:

  1. You stayed in Administrative Segregation in a federal penitentiary anywhere in Canada for 16 consecutive days or more ON or AFTER March 3, 2011 (OPTION A).
  2. OR

  3. You stayed in Administrative Segregation in a federal penitentiary anywhere in Canada for any length of time ON or AFTER July 20, 2009 AND were diagnosed by a medical doctor with a mental disorder or a borderline personality disorder prior or during your incarceration AND suffer(ed) serious impairment as a result of your disorder and reported such to Correctional Service of Canada (CSC ) (OPTION B).

Voluntary or not, all Administrative Segregation counts.

If you were placed in Administrative Segregation ONLY before July 20, 2009, you should contact the Claims Administrator to provide details, because you may still be entitled to money if you can prove you could not make a claim before.

What are these Class Actions about?

Three (3) separate class actions lawsuits have ended with the Courts finding that the rights of inmates placed in administrative segregation while incarcerated in federal correctional institutions were violated.

A global award of approximately $28 million is available to pay all eligible claimants, known as Class Members, who make a claim. Additional money may be claimed by eligible Class Members in some cases.

Consult the Documents page to consult the Protocol1, important notices, forms, judgments and legal documents.

1 The Protocol is the official document detailing the steps regarding claims processing for the Federal Administrative Segregation Class Actions.

How much money could I get?

The amount you may receive depends on various factors, especially which type of claim you submit (known as a “Track”).

TRACK COMPENSATION
AmountTRACK 1TRACK 2TRACK 3

Only an equal share of the $28 million lump sum divided among claimants. The equal share has been calculated at $5,469.85 CAD. The value of the equal share before deduction (GADA) is $8,411.23.

Track 2 Box 1: Up to $20,000.00, minus deductions

Track 2 Box 2: Up to $10,000.00, minus deductions

Track 2 Box 3: Up to $20,000.00, minus deductions

TOTAL UP TO $50,000

(Eligible claimants will receive at least an equal share of the $28 million lump sum).

MORE THAN $50,000. NO LIMIT to your claim. (claimants will receive at least an equal share of the $28 million lump sum).

Click here, for more information.

Summary of Your Legal Rights and Options

Submit a Claim

The deadline to make a claim expired on November 7, 2022.

However, if you did not file a claim before November 7, 2022, for reasons beyond your control and still wish to submit a claim, please contact your Counsel before March 7, 2023.

Previous communications with lawyers do not count as submitting a Claim Form.

Do Nothing

If you did not make a claim, you will not get any money and you will have given up the right to get money in the future.

Opt Out (Exclude yourself)

The courts had already granted an initial period to opt-out of the class actions which is expired.

However, Class Members who did not want to be part of this class action had the chance to opt-out if they were first placed in administrative segregation after December 12, 2016 and have not previously had an opportunity to opt out. The deadline to submit a letter signed and dated clearly stating of wish to opt-out had to be submitted to the Claims Administrator no later than October 7, 2021. This deadline has now expired.

We recommend you take a few minutes to view the FAQ section for further details about these class actions.