Most of Canada’s prisoners have never been convicted of anything. Why are they in jail? – The Globe and Mail

On any given day in Canada, there are more innocent people in prison than guilty ones.

By “innocent people,” we mean those who have been accused of a crime and are being held on remand, awaiting a bail hearing or a trial. Across the country, 55 per cent of prisoners in provincial and territorial jails are not behind bars because of a conviction.