Prisons in Quebec: the list, and where they are hiring

There are two kinds of prisons in Quebec. The 17 detention facilities, or provincial prisons, are run by Quebec and hold people sentenced to less than two years. The 13 institutions of the Correctional Service of Canada, or penitentiaries, hold those serving two years or more. Here is the complete list, region by region, and where they are hiring right now.

Provincial prison or penitentiary: what is the difference?

The length of the sentence decides. A sentence of less than two years (two years less a day) is served in a Quebec detention facility. A sentence of two years or more is served in a federal penitentiary. Provincial facilities also hold people awaiting trial.

These are two employers and two jobs: the correctional services officer at the provincial level, the correctional officer at the federal level. The requirements, training and salary are explained in our article becoming a correctional officer in Quebec.

The list of the 17 provincial prisons

They report to the Correctional Services of the Ministère de la Sécurité intérieure. Québec.ca lists them by region.

Bordeaux prison, in Montréal, is the best known. Its official name is the Établissement de détention de Montréal. The Établissement Leclerc de Laval also houses the correctional training centre where new provincial officers spend their first five weeks of training.

The list of federal penitentiaries in Quebec

The Correctional Service of Canada has 13 institutions in its Quebec region. The security level is shown as the Service lists it.

Donnacona and Port-Cartier are Quebec's two maximum-security penitentiaries. The Waseskun Healing Centre operates under section 81 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, which allows the custody of inmates to be entrusted to an Indigenous community.

Where they are hiring right now

Federal: six cities in Quebec

The Correctional Service of Canada has an open competition for the Correctional Officer I (CX-01) position until December 31, 2026. The notice names six cities in Quebec: Cowansville, Donnacona, Drummondville, Laval, Port-Cartier and Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines. The posted salary ranges from $77,510 to $97,266 a year.

Joliette, La Macaza and Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez are not in this notice. At Joliette Institution, the equivalent position is called primary worker.

After applying online, candidates receive an email within three to five days to complete a mandatory second part on another platform. Without it, the application is not considered.

Provincial: the 17 facilities

Correctional services officer openings appear in the Careers section of Québec.ca. The job is carried out in one of the 17 detention facilities. Successful candidates take nine weeks of paid training: five at the training centre at the Établissement Leclerc de Laval, then four at the facility in their region. The published salary scale ranges from $54,038 to $74,096. An 8% remoteness premium applies in Sept-Îles only.

Can a security guard work there?

The BSP licence is not enough. Both employers have their own requirements and their own training. Security experience remains an asset: at the provincial level, two years of relevant experience can replace the two years of post-secondary studies required. At the federal level, you also need a class 4A driver's licence and a first aid certificate.

Other security positions exist around courthouses, where special constables work.

Frequently asked questions

How many prisons are there in Quebec?

Thirty in all: 17 provincial detention facilities and 13 federal institutions of the Correctional Service of Canada.

Where is a two-year sentence served?

In a federal penitentiary. Provincial prisons take sentences of two years less a day or less.

What is the most secure prison in Quebec?

The Correctional Service of Canada rates two institutions in Quebec as maximum security: Donnacona and Port-Cartier.

Where is Bordeaux prison?

At 800 boulevard Gouin Ouest, in Montréal. Its official name is the Établissement de détention de Montréal.

Sources

• Québec.ca: Trouver un établissement de détention (updated August 31, 2026)
• Québec.ca: Aperçu du milieu carcéral au Québec
• Québec.ca: Agente ou agent des services correctionnels
• Correctional Service of Canada: National facility directory
• GC Jobs: Correctional Officer I, process 2026-PEN-EA-NAT-201617