HAMILTON — Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner has set a date for the mandatory inquest into the death of Sean White, a 32-year-old man who died while in custody at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre in 2021.
Dr. Karen Schiff, Regional Supervising Coroner for the West Region, Hamilton Office, confirmed Thursday that proceedings will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, October 6, 2025. The inquest will be presided over by Murray Segal, with Roger Shallow serving as inquest counsel.
Circumstances of the Case
Mr. White died on August 12, 2021, while incarcerated at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre, a provincial facility that has faced scrutiny in recent years over conditions, overcrowding, and access to inmate health care. His death falls under provisions of Ontario’s Coroners Act, which requires an inquest whenever a person dies in custody.
“The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Mr. White’s death. The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths,” Dr. Schiff said in the announcement.
While the details of Mr. White’s passing have not yet been publicly released, the inquest will provide a forum for testimony from witnesses and expert review of the events leading up to his death.
Scope and Structure of the Inquest
The inquest is scheduled to run five days and will hear from approximately 12 witnesses. Jurors will review evidence, hear testimony, and be tasked with delivering findings of fact. At the conclusion, they may also issue recommendations intended to address systemic issues within Ontario’s correctional system.
As with all coroner’s inquests, the process will not assign blame or legal liability. Instead, its purpose is to provide transparency, accountability, and constructive guidance on preventing future deaths in custody.
Public Access
In keeping with efforts to expand accessibility, the inquest will be conducted by video conference. Members of the public will be able to watch proceedings live via a link provided by the Office of the Chief Coroner: https://firstclassfacilitation.ca/office-of-the-chief-coroner/inquest-into-the-death-of-sean-white/.
The online option is part of a broader trend of making inquests more accessible to family members, advocates, and the general public, especially when in-person attendance is difficult.
The Role of Inquests in Ontario
Coroner’s inquests in Ontario are public hearings conducted before a five-member jury. They are mandatory in certain circumstances, including deaths in custody, workplace fatalities covered by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and deaths of children in care.
While the findings are not binding, recommendations made by juries often influence policies and practices in corrections, policing, and health care. Previous inquests have resulted in calls for improved inmate mental health care, better staff training, suicide prevention strategies, and enhanced oversight of facilities.
Inquests are also a means of addressing public concerns and providing families with answers about how their loved ones died. By law, they must be fact-finding rather than fault-finding, with the aim of improving systems rather than attributing responsibility.
Context and Broader Implications
The Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre, where Mr. White was housed, has been the subject of previous inquests and reviews. Advocates have long raised concerns about conditions, access to medical treatment, and systemic challenges in Ontario’s correctional system.
Although the outcome of the Sean White inquest remains to be determined, it may shed light on broader issues affecting correctional institutions and add to the growing body of recommendations aimed at improving inmate safety and care.
Next Steps
The proceedings are expected to conclude by October 10, 2025, barring extensions. Once the jury delivers its verdict and recommendations, the findings will be posted publicly and shared with relevant government agencies and stakeholders.
The Ministry of the Solicitor General encouraged members of the public seeking more information about the inquest process to visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/coroners-inquests.
