Woman who says she endured cruel and unusual punishment in N.S. prison has settled civil lawsuit
Lisa Adams, a woman who endured cruel and unusual punishment in a Nova Scotia prison, has reached a settlement in her civil lawsuit against the federal attorney general after almost five years of legal battles. Adams filed the lawsuit following her harrowing experience of being placed in solitary confinement in a dry cell for 16 days, a practice that has since been banned across Canada thanks to her advocacy efforts.
The lawsuit, filed in November 2020, detailed how Adams was wrongly accused of hiding drugs in her vagina by correctional officers at the Nova Institution for Women in Truro, N.S. She was locked in a dry cell without access to basic amenities like a toilet or running water, leading to harsh, humiliating, and harmful conditions. Despite her repeated denials of possessing any contraband, Adams endured a prolonged stay in the cell, exacerbating her well-documented mental health issues.
During her time in the dry cell, Adams experienced a deterioration in her mental stability, leading to suicidal thoughts that were ignored by prison staff. Medical professionals noted her deteriorating condition but were unable to provide adequate care. After undergoing a pelvic exam that revealed no foreign bodies, Adams was finally released back into the prison’s general population after 16 days of confinement.
The civil lawsuit sought damages for the negligent treatment Adams received, alleging that Correctional Service Canada failed to safeguard her physical and emotional needs and subjected her to cruel, unusual, and excessive punishment. The attorney general of Canada, in their statement of defense, acknowledged the regrettable nature of Adams’ confinement in a dry cell but highlighted evidence of methamphetamine ingestion and Adams’ refusal of body cavity and X-ray searches.
Despite the legal battles, Adams’ courage and advocacy led to significant changes within the Canadian correctional system. In April 2022, the federal government announced the ban of dry celling for inmates suspected of carrying contraband in their vaginas. Subsequent regulations introduced in October 2024 aimed to limit the duration of dry cell detentions, improve inmate monitoring, and implement body scanners for contraband detection.
While the civil case has been resolved, the impact of Adams’ actions extends beyond her own experience. Her bravery in standing up for the rights and dignity of women across the country has led to tangible reforms in the correctional system, ensuring that no one else will have to endure the inhumane treatment she faced.
