24. (1) A strip search of an inmate is only authorized if it is conducted in accordance with the requirements in this section. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (1). (2) A strip search of an inmate may only be conducted by an officer or manager employed in the correctional institution. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (1). (3) Before beginning a strip search, the officer or manager conducting the strip search shall inform the inmate of the purpose of the search and the process for conducting it. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (1). (4) An officer or manager conducting a strip search shall conduct the search visually without touching the inmate and, despite clause 7 (1) (d), shall not use force to conduct the strip search. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (1). (5) Despite subsection (4), an officer or manager conducting a strip search may direct the inmate’s movements in ways that facilitate the search and may touch the inmate during the search in accordance with a request from the inmate, such as where the inmate requests physical support due to mobility issues. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (1). (6) The officer or manager conducting the strip search shall not require the inmate’s clothing to be removed for longer than necessary to conduct the search and shall not cause unnecessary embarrassment or humiliation. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (1). (7) The strip search must be witnessed by one other officer or manager. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (1). (8) An inmate shall only be subjected to a strip search by an officer or manager who is of the same gender, and the strip search shall only be witnessed by an officer or manager who is of the same gender. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (1). (9) Despite subsection (8), the witness to the strip search may be of a different gender than the inmate if the officer or manager conducting the strip search believes on reasonable grounds that the time required to find a witness of the same gender would endanger the security of the correctional institution or the personal safety of any person. In such a case, the witness shall position themselves so that they can observe the officer or manager conducting the strip search but cannot observe the inmate’s underwear, chest, buttocks or genitals. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (1). (10) For greater certainty, subsections (8) and (9) apply subject to any applicable accommodation needs under the Human Rights Code. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (1). Note: On July 31, 2024, section 24 of the Regulation is revoked and the following substituted: (See: O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2)) 24. (1) A strip search of an inmate is only authorized if it is conducted in the circumstances described in subsection (3), (5) or (9) and in accordance with the other requirements in this section. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (2) A strip search of an inmate may only be conducted by an officer or manager employed in the correctional institution. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (3) An officer or manager may conduct a strip search of an inmate if the officer or manager has reasonable grounds to believe that, (a) the inmate is carrying contraband that can be hidden on or within the body; (b) a strip search is needed to confirm the existence of contraband or recover it; and (c) using a less intrusive search method would not be effective at locating contraband or is not operationally feasible. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (4) Before an officer conducts a search in the circumstances described in subsection (3), the officer must obtain the approval of a manager employed in the correctional institution unless the officer believes on reasonable grounds that the time required to obtain a manager’s approval would endanger the security of the correctional institution or the personal safety of any person. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (5) An officer or manager may conduct a strip search of a group of inmates if the officer or manager has reasonable grounds to believe that, (a) contraband that can be hidden on or within the body and that poses a clear and substantial danger to human safety or security is present in the area of the correctional institution where the group of inmates is located; (b) a strip search of the group of inmates is needed to confirm the existence of contraband or recover it; and (c) using a less intrusive search method would not be effective at locating contraband or is not operationally feasible. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (6) A strip search that is conducted in the circumstances described in subsection (5) must be limited to as small a group of inmates as is reasonably necessary to confirm the existence of contraband or recover it. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (7) The officer or manager must obtain the personal approval of a Superintendent or, in the absence of the Superintendent, the acting head of the correctional institution before conducting a strip search in the circumstances described in subsection (5) unless, (a) the officer or manager believes on reasonable grounds that the time required to comply with the requirement would endanger the security of the correctional institution or the personal safety of any person; and (b) in the case of an officer, the officer obtains the approval of a manager employed in the correctional institution before conducting the strip search. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (8) Despite section 3, the Superintendent and the acting head of the correctional institution cannot delegate their authority to provide approval under subsection (7). O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (9) An officer or manager may conduct a strip search of an inmate in any of the following circumstances if a less intrusive search method would not be effective at locating contraband or is not operationally feasible: 1. When an inmate is entering the correctional institution, except if the inmate is returning from an escorted absence during which the inmate was directly observed by an officer or manager at all times. 2. Before the inmate leaves the correctional institution on an escorted absence, including when they are transported to court. 3. Before the inmate is transferred to the custody of another correctional institution, a penitentiary or a psychiatric facility, whether within or outside Ontario. 4. When the inmate is initially held in conditions of confinement that isolate them from other inmates due to a risk of self-harm or physical harm to others. 5. When the inmate is leaving an area within the correctional institution where they had access to potentially dangerous contraband that could be hidden on or within the body. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (10) Before beginning a strip search, the officer or manager conducting the strip search shall inform the inmate of the purpose of the search and the process for conducting it. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (11) An officer or manager conducting a strip search shall conduct the search visually without touching the inmate and, despite clause 7 (1) (d), shall not use force to conduct the strip search. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (12) Despite subsection (11), an officer or manager conducting a strip search may direct the inmate’s movements in ways that facilitate the search and may touch the inmate during the search in accordance with a request from the inmate, such as where the inmate requests physical support due to mobility issues. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (13) The officer or manager conducting the strip search shall not require the inmate’s clothing to be removed for longer than necessary to conduct the search and shall not cause unnecessary embarrassment or humiliation. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (14) The strip search must be witnessed by one other officer or manager. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (15) The strip search must be conducted in a manner that ensures that the inmate’s underwear, chest, buttocks and genitals are not visible to any person other than the inmate, the officer or manager conducting the strip search and the witness. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (16) Subsection (15) does not apply if the officer or manager conducting the strip search believes on reasonable grounds that the time required to comply with the requirement would endanger the security of the correctional institution or the personal safety of any person. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (17) Subsection (15) does not prohibit closed circuit recording of a strip search for safety or security purposes. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (18) An inmate shall only be subjected to a strip search by an officer or manager who is of the same gender, and the strip search shall only be witnessed by an officer or manager who is of the same gender. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (19) Despite subsection (18), the witness to the strip search may be of a different gender than the inmate if the officer or manager conducting the strip search believes on reasonable grounds that the time required to find a witness of the same gender would endanger the security of the correctional institution or the personal safety of any person. In such a case, the witness shall, despite subsection (15), position themselves so that they can observe the officer or manager conducting the strip search but cannot observe the inmate’s underwear, chest, buttocks or genitals. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2). (20) For greater certainty, subsections (18) and (19) apply subject to any applicable accommodation needs under the Human Rights Code. O. Reg. 190/23, s. 7 (2).