Stephen Carter
Executive Vice President, CGL Companies, United States
Stephen A. Carter, AICP, is Executive Vice President and Founder of CGL Companies, a leading international firm specializing in justice facility planning, design, and operations. With more than five decades of experience, he is recognized as one of the most influential justice facility planners in North America, contributing to hundreds of projects involving needs assessment, operational and architectural programming, design review, and system-wide planning.
Stephen played a pivotal role in the redevelopment of the Nanaimo Correctional Centre (NCC), working closely with provincial leaders, designers, and operational teams to ensure that the facility’s vision—rooted in dignity, normalization, and evidence-informed practice—was translated into practical, functional, and forward-looking design solutions. His expertise helped bridge operational realities with therapeutic, culturally responsive, and health-centred design elements that now define NCC as a leading example of modern correctional architecture.
Throughout his career, Stephen has been sought after by governments and justice organizations across the globe for his ability to build consensus, navigate complex system challenges, and deliver facilities that improve safety, behaviour, and long-term outcomes. His work champions the idea that correctional environments must reflect and reinforce the values of the systems they serve—prioritizing humanity, wellness, and sustainable operations.
Stephen brings a strategic, systems-level perspective on how thoughtful planning and design can catalyze institutional transformation and support more effective, rights-based correctional outcomes.
