Law360 Canada (May 7, 2026, 4:41 PM EDT) -- Saskatchewan has passed new provincial prison legislation that will have justices of the peace decide on “major disciplinary matters” involving inmates.

According to a May 6 news release, Saskatchewan’s government passed the Correctional Services Amendment Act in a bid to strengthen the province’s correctional system through the enhancement of “safety, fairness and consistency.”

The release notes the amendments “introduce a more structured and independent approach to inmate discipline for serious incidents,” and provide “stronger oversight” in the management of inmates.

“Major disciplinary matters are now decided by justices of the peace,” it states. “This ensures decisions are impartial and consistent. It also ensures clear and enforceable consequences for serious misconduct are in place.”

Saskatchewan Community Safety Minister Michael Weger said the changes “modernize [the province’s] correctional system, strengthen oversight and support safer, more effective operations in our facilities.”

“They help ensure clear rules, fair processes and strong tools are in place to maintain order and safety, while reinforcing our commitment to a transparent and accountable system,” said Weger in a statement. “These amendments position us to better meet current challenges and adapt to future needs.”

The release also notes the province has partnered with the Saskatchewan Marshals Service (SMS) in efforts to “further [enhance] institutional safety and inmate accountability.”

“This partnership will strengthen how criminal incidents are addressed within correctional facilities,” it states. “The SMS will investigate offences that occur in provincial custody and lay charges when appropriate. This ensures incidents, such as violence or drug trafficking, are dealt with in a timely manner, while allowing municipal police services to focus on frontline community policing.”

The SMS will begin working at the Prince Albert Correctional Centre, the Prince Albert Youth Residence and the Pine Grove Correctional Centre, with plans to expand to other correctional facilities “over time” — the goal, to reinforce “clear expectations and meaningful consequences within … correctional facilities.”

SMS Chief Marshal Robert Cameron said: “This new partnership strengthens public safety by ensuring that serious incidents involving offenders in custody are investigated thoroughly, safely and with clear accountability for criminal actions. By assuming responsibility for these investigations, the [SMS] will help reduce the operational burden on already busy police services of jurisdiction, allowing them to focus more time and resources on responding to 911 emergencies and advancing proactive crime reduction efforts.”

The changes create a more effective and “balanced” correctional system ensuring that correctional facilities “remain safe, secure and well managed,” states the release.

Additional questions put to the government about the new Act were not answered by press time.

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