With a designed capacity for 631 prisoners,[1] the Toronto West Detention Centre housed adult males who had been remanded into custody while awaiting trial or sentencing, were serving short sentences, or were awaiting transfer to federal or provincial correctional facilities.

[2] Over the years the Toronto West Detention Centre had at times also housed female and juvenile offenders.

From October 1997 through January 1999 the facility underwent extensive retrofitting of its security systems using up-to-date technology.

[citation needed] Demolition of the Toronto West Detention Centre commenced in December 2016 with a projected finish of February 2017.

The 111 Disco road site is slated to become the home of the new Toronto Young Offender Facility.