Ashley Smith: Out of Control (2010)

In 2010, the documentary Ashley Smith: Out of Control delved into the tragic life and untimely death of Ashley Smith, a troubled young woman who became a symbol of systemic failures within the Canadian prison system.

Ashley’s journey began innocuously when she was sent to a youth detention center in her home province of New Brunswick for a seemingly minor offense: throwing crabapples at a mailman. Little did anyone know that her one-month sentence would stretch to nearly four years of confinement, served across 11 institutions in 5 provinces.

The documentary, produced by the Fifth Estate, gained exclusive access to shocking prison video footage that exposed the harrowing treatment Ashley endured while in custody. She was subjected to physical force, and pepper spray, and even confined in a restrictive body bag known as “the wrap.” As she spent more time in segregation cells, her behavior deteriorated, and the punishments escalated. What Ashley truly needed was mental health assessment and treatment, but tragically, she never received it.

Ashley’s story is one of neglect, desperation, and a broken system. Her death, as she choked herself to death with a strip of cloth at the Grand Valley Institution in Kitchener, Ontario, made national headlines and prompted a scathing report by Canada’s federal prison ombudsman. The documentary highlights the failure to address the mental health needs of incarcerated individuals like Ashley, revealing a system ill-equipped to handle their vulnerabilities.

Through interviews with Ashley’s parents, fellow inmates, and reporter Hana Gartner, “Ashley Smith: Out of Control” exposes the cracks in the Canadian prison system. It serves as a probing indictment of a badly broken system and a stark reminder of the human cost when compassion and mental health support are lacking