"This story is not easy for me to tell, but I must denounce the situation that women are experiencing at Leclerc prison so that people become aware of the human rights problems that exist in this Laval prison."

These are the opening words of the moving testimony of Louise Henry, incarcerated for 11 months in this former maximum-security federal penitentiary for men where the inmates of Maison Tanguay were transferred in 2016. The story of her experience behind bars and that of her fellow inmates is as disturbing as it is damning: excessive strip searches, abusive use of solitary confinement, verbal and psychological violence, sudden cancellation of visits, limited access to the infirmary, extreme uncleanliness, problems with drinking water, heating and plumbing, inappropriate management of the COVID-19 pandemic... The conditions of detention at Leclerc prison are deplorable and unsuitable for the needs of women. It is time for the provincial government to close this facility, which has been described for years as a “true disgrace for Quebec” by human rights activists.

As a society, don’t we have a responsibility to support and help these women who often come from disadvantaged, marginalized and racialized groups? How can we punish minor crimes in a way that promotes the rehabilitation of prisoners? What is the rationale for resorting to judicialization and imprisonment to address social problems? One thing is certain: no one will emerge unscathed from this poignant and courageous testimony.