Ashley Stevens, a former inmate at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre, experienced severe health issues during her incarceration, including a miscarriage and a subsequent infection that led to sepsis. Despite reporting her symptoms, her medical concerns were largely ignored by jail staff, highlighting systemic failures in healthcare access within Ontario jails. Complaints from inmates regarding healthcare have doubled in recent years, with many citing inadequate medical resources and support. The Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General acknowledged the challenges but stated that policies are in place to address medical emergencies.
