Nova Scotia prison reform groups call for release of inmates as COVID-19 spreads – Halifax

Two Nova Scotia prison reform organizations are calling for the release of some inmates as COVID-19 continues to spread.

On Tuesday, Correctional Service Canada announced that eight inmates tested positive for COVID-19 at Nova Institution for Women, a federal facility in Truro, Nova Scotia. As of Friday, that number had risen to 20. The prison has a capacity of 90 people. and there are usually about 70 people incarcerated there.

The Nova Scotia Department of Justice also announced on Friday that 31 male inmates at the Nova Scotia Correctional Center in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia’s largest provincial prison, had tested positive for the coronavirus. As of Wednesday, there were 233 inmates at the prison. No cases were reported among the detainees.

The federal and provincial governments say measures are in place at both facilities to limit the spread of infection, including restrictions on movement, increased cleaning and masking.

Martha Paynter, registered nurse and founder of the reproductive justice and prison abolition organization Wellness Within, is concerned about the impact the increased restrictions will have on inmates.

“A lot of us have, perhaps facetiously, said it felt like we were jailed when we had to self-isolate, or quarantine, or whatever, during COVID,” a- she told Global News.

“It was really inappropriate to say that. People in prison – at best – are under really horrible conditions, and during confinement these prisoners are unable to communicate, they have no control over their access to showers. , to food, this is very serious.

According to the Correctional Service of Canada, 90% of inmates at Nova Institution for Women are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

However, Nova Scotia has not released information on inmate immunization at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility, also known as Burnside Jail.

In a joint press release issued Friday by Wellness Within and the East Coast Prison Justice Society, the organizations called on the Nova Scotia government to share vaccination rates among inmates.

“We understand that less than 50% of the total male incarcerated population have been vaccinated, with the lowest vaccination rates being among African Nova Scotians and / or Indigenous people, who are disproportionately represented in provincial facilities.” , indicates the press release.

The groups are calling for the number of provincial inmates to be reduced, granting temporary absences to sentenced inmates, speeding up bail hearings and reviewing remand orders for those who have yet to be tried.

Paynter noted that about 80 percent of those held at Burnside are on remand pending bail or trial.

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She said reducing the number of inmates – and preventing more people from being incarcerated for things like “minor” parole violations – should be a top priority to reduce the numbers and protect inmates and staff from COVID -19.

“It is just dangerous and unethical to have people in such a dangerous environment in terms of transmission,” she said.

“They didn’t sign up for this. That is not part of the sentence … and being subject to a virtual guarantee of transmission of this disease is simply unfair. “

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Paynter also raised concerns about the impact of the pandemic on staffing levels. The province said “several” staff at Burnside Prison have tested positive for COVID-19, and Paynter said at least 19 staff have tested positive at Nova Institution for Women.

“When there are less staff, it increases the unrest, it increases the violence, because it usually comes with more lockdown conditions, which is very hectic, and it is especially hectic when you are in a high stress and fear situation, ”she said.

In an emailed statement, Correctional Service Canada said it, along with the Parole Board of Canada, continues to treat inmates eligible for release from federal prisons, as required by law.

“There are a number of considerations that go into release decision making, with public safety being the primary consideration,” he said.

“On average, 600 offenders are released each month. It happens through parole, statutory release, or expiration of sentence. Since March 1, 2020, the number of inmates in federal custody has decreased by 1,518. ”

He said COVID-19 testing is widely offered to inmates and staff, and employees are required to take a quick test with a negative result before entering the site.

The Nova Scotia Department of Justice could not be reached for comment on Saturday, but said in a statement Friday that corrections were working with public health “to maintain a safe environment for those in detention and the establishment staff “.

“Measures are in place to minimize the spread of the virus, including the distribution of medical masks, restrictions on movement within the facility, increased cleaning and disinfection,” he said. “The situation is closely monitored and assessed on a daily basis. “

Meanwhile, there are at least two other federal institutions in the Maritimes with positive cases of COVID-19.

The Correctional Service of Canada announced Thursday that three inmates and seven staff tested positive at Atlantic Institution in Renous, New Brunswick

There is currently one active inmate case at Springhill Institution in Nova Scotia.

– with files from Graeme Benjamin

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