Ford 'absolutely furious' after 157 inmates improperly released from Ontario jails

Premier Doug Ford declared himself "absolutely furious" this week after Global News revealed that 157 inmates were improperly released from Ontario jails between 2021 and 2025. The disclosure, obtained through a freedom-of-information request, prompted Ford on April 16 to promise sweeping changes and instant re-apprehension of anyone mistakenly freed in future.

The numbers expose a long-running breakdown in coordination between Ontario's correctional institutions and the courts that send prisoners to them. Despite the appointment of a central release coordinator in 2023, another 39 improper releases occurred between January and September 2025, and seven of those inmates remained at large as of the latest briefing to the Solicitor General.

What the records show

Of the 39 improper releases in early 2025, 77 across the full five-year window were attributed to institutional errors inside provincial jails, 39 were blamed on court errors and one was chalked up to other stakeholders. Roughly 18 per cent of the most recent cohort was not re-arrested, a figure senior officials conceded was unacceptable in internal briefings obtained by Global News.

Ontario's correctional system has been operating well beyond design capacity for more than a year, with double- and triple-bunking common across Toronto South Detention Centre, the Maplehurst Correctional Complex and the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre. Staffing shortages have repeatedly forced lockdowns that block lawyer visits and court transports.

Ford's response

Speaking to reporters at Queen's Park on April 16, Ford pledged that any inmate improperly released in future would be re-arrested on the spot. CTV News Toronto reported the Premier's remarks alongside a commitment from Solicitor General Michael Kerzner to identify every breakdown in the paperwork chain.

"I'm absolutely furious. It's unacceptable, it will never happen again under my watch," Ford said.

The Solicitor General's office confirmed that a review of release protocols is under way and that additional staff have been assigned to verify warrants before any inmate walks out the front gate. Critics in the Ontario NDP and Liberal caucuses countered that the 2023 coordinator appointment was itself sold as a fix and that the problem has since recurred at nearly the same pace.

Political fallout

The disclosure lands awkwardly for a Progressive Conservative government that has made "tough on crime" messaging a centrepiece of its recent communications, including calls for Ottawa to tighten bail laws. Opposition members argued on April 16 that Ontario cannot credibly demand federal action while misplacing prisoners inside its own institutions.

Public safety advocates noted that improper releases are distinct from parole decisions because they involve inmates who should have remained in custody under existing court orders. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union, which represents correctional officers, has warned since 2023 that chronic understaffing raises the odds of clerical mistakes at intake and discharge desks.

What's next

Kerzner is expected to table an action plan before the legislature rises for its summer recess. Ford confirmed that the plan will include tighter electronic verification between court registries and jail records, and that any institution responsible for an improper release will face internal discipline. A parallel review by Ontario's Auditor General, announced earlier this year, is expected to report by fall 2026. For more on provincial governance, see our politics coverage.

Sources

• CBC Toronto — Ford reacts to improper jail releases
• Global News — 157 inmates improperly released from Ontario jails
• CTV News — Ford promises no more improper releases