William Head Institution is a minimum-security federal correctional institution for men located in Metchosin, British Columbia

Metchosin, British Columbia

The District of Metchosin is a small, coastal community in the metro Greater Victoria region of British Columbia. It is part of the Western Communities and one of the 13 regional municipalities. Many Metchosinites are small farmers . Most are retired or work outside the community...

, about 25 kilometres west of Victoria on the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...

. The Institution opened in 1959 and can house 140 inmates. Inmates live in four groups of four duplexes, which can each house five people. William Head uses an individual approach focused on basic programs.

Facility Characteristics

Institution for male offenders
Security level: minimum
Date opened: 1959
Number of inmates: 94
Average length of sentences:
Less than 40 months: 20 per cent of inmates
40 months and over: 27 per cent of inmates
Life sentence: 53 per cent of inmates
Number of employees: 101

Reported:
April 2010