There is a recognized right at law for competent adults to refuse treatment. This constitutionally protected right is effectively removed for prisoners, especially those who are deemed to be in "treatment" in a "treatment centre", such as the Regional Psychiatric Centre (RPC) in Saskatoon. Moreover, a prisoner patient who refuses treatment is regarded as inflating to a very significant level her criminogenic risk factors. Such realities, in turn, result in the tautology of further isolation and segregation, and heightened institutional adjustment and community integration challenges. The conditions of confinement to which too many of the women with significant mental and cognitive disabilities are subject, are extremely austere and too often constitute violations of their rights pursuant to the Canadian Human Rights Act, the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Indeed, those who are able to access legal assistance frequently receive compensatory cash settlements in relation to abuse claims.

As the members in the Atlantic Region are well aware, there has been significant time and energy devoted to intervening in the especially problematic reality of the situation involving federally sentenced women segregated for most of their time within the segregated maximum security unit in the Springhill Institution. Extensive periods of time in segregation and the resulting isolation that they endure, combined with CSC's experimentation with Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) have taken their toll in this regard.

This is perhaps most reinforced by the results of the recent opening of the Special Living Environment (SLE) in the Nova Institution. The SLE was touted as necessary in order to permit CSC to meet the needs presented by women who were previously imprisoned in the segregated maximum security unit at Springhill Institution. Indeed, it was assumed by many that most of the women from Springhill would be accommodated in the SLE at Nova. While a number have been transferred to the SLE since it opened. To date, all of the women transferred to the SLE from the segregated maximum security unit at Springhill Institution, have been returned to Springhill. In addition to being a very alarming reality, this development significantly underscores and heightens CAEFS' ongoing concern with respect to the problematic circumstances created by CSC attempting to provide mental health services in prison settings.

The Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge (OOHL) representative, Judith Heminger, and the Executive Director of CAEFS were pleased to be invited to participate in recent Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) meetings regarding the future of the OOHL. It has long been a concern of the CAEFS' membership that access to the Lodge is limited to only those women who have achieved a minimum or medium security classification level. Given the reality that 50% of the women classified as maximum security prisoners are Aboriginal, there is a clear and pressing need to ensure that appropriate and adequate services and resources exist for them. As such, we are extremely heartened by the current efforts of CSC to refocus upon the needs of the women and support all efforts aimed at increasing the level of support available to Aboriginal women prisoners.