Strip searches in federal prisons
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has authorized a class action for individuals incarcerated in a federal prison between June 18, 1992 and December 31, 2024, regarding suspicionless strip searches in certain situations.
The Court has not heard the case or decided whether Canada did anything wrong. There is no money available now and no guarantee there will ever be any money. If money or benefits are obtained, there will be notices about how to ask for your share.
For more information, kindly contact Class Counsel Elson Advocacy. You can also visit their website : Federal Strip Search Class Action – Elson Advocacy
Criteria to respect
You are a class member if you were
- Incarcerated in a federal prison
- Between June 18, 1992, and December 31, 2024.
Proactio was appointed as administrator during the Opt-Out period, which closed on December 28, 2025.
Next Steps
The court has certified the class action, which provides authorization for the case to proceed as a class action instead of individual actions. This is a preliminary step. It does not determine the liability of the defendant, who will be able to plead their defences at trial.
There is no money available now and no guarantee there will ever be any. If money is awarded, notices will be posted in prisons about how to claim for a share.
More Details
For more details, please see the Long-Form Notice or consult Elson Advocacy’s website: Federal Strip Search Class Action – Elson Advocacy
Frequently Asked Questions
