Attorney general to ‘get to the bottom’ of reported prisoner release mistakes in 2025

Ontario’s attorney general says he will “get to the bottom” of why dozens of inmates in provincial jails are being wrongly released each year — an issue that first came to the minister’s attention more than a year ago.

Internal government documents, obtained by Global News through freedom of information laws, show the province “improperly” released more than 150 inmates between 2021 and September 2025, with no proper explanation as to why.

The revelation led to a backlash in Queen’s Park from critics who claimed the government was not adequately protecting the province and a rare admission from the minister responsible for Ontario’s prison system.

“I will understand why so many people – which is a lot – were improperly released,” Kerzner told reporters after a cabinet meeting. “It is unacceptable for me, it is unacceptable for the prime minister.”

Kerzner then immediately laid the blame on nonpartisan civil servants, with whom he vowed to meet to end the accidental releases.

“Protocols have to be followed and I’m asking the ministry to follow protocols to make sure no one is wrongly released,” Kerzner said.

Internal documents, however, show that a briefing note was written to prepare the minister for questions about the wrongful release more than a year ago.

Staff within the Ministry of the Solicitor General went so far as to create a multi-page “key message” briefing note on “improper statements” in January 2025.

The document includes talking points, an update on the current status and key facts that narrowed down, in December, the percentage of inmates who were “improperly” released.

The key message summary created by the ministry also reveals existing protocols and actions the government has already taken to address the issue:

• An improper release of a prisoner from the correctional institution or the court is unacceptable.
• The Ministry has specific standard practices to provide support and guidance to staff dealing with legal documents related to release.
• If an improper release occurs, the police are notified and every effort is made to locate the individual and return them to custody.
• The Ministry conducts an internal investigation of all improper releases to determine the cause and whether any action or process change is needed to prevent future improper releases.
• To address wrongful releases, the ministry is working closely with the Minister of the Attorney General to review specific cases of wrongful releases.
• The Ministry has also hired a Provincial Records Coordinator to oversee a project to provide effective corporate oversight, leadership and support towards standardizing practices within prisoner records departments across the province.

Despite seemingly well-established protocols for preventing the issue from occurring, at least 39 more inmates were released in 2025 — the same year the memo was prepared.

Kerzner, asked about the specific information contained in the document, reiterated that he would discuss the matter with senior civil servants at the ministry in an effort to “get to the bottom” of the situation.

“I will talk to my deputy minister today and meet with her as often as necessary,” Kerzner said.

He did not say what work — if any — had happened since he was briefed on the matter, nor did he answer why the release of the information appeared to have prompted him to meet with the most senior civil servant in his ministry.

“Look, our priority is always to protect the province,” he told reporters. “I’m going to the end as soon as I can completely,” he added later.

Documents obtained by Global News also tracked how many prisoners are “unlawfully at large” in Ontario – with the count at 69 in September 2025.

The documents do not reveal what the individuals were accused of and whether or not they had been found guilty by a court, but police are notified when acquittals occur and, the government said, “every effort is made to locate the individual and return them to custody.”

Asked if there was a threat to public safety, Kerzner said he would look into the question.

“We will demonstrate and assure the public of Ontario that our priority to protect Ontario will not waver, will not change at all,” he said. “We’re going to be laser focused.”

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