Through an investment of approximately $35,000 the Provincial Government has made significant upgrades to videoconferencing technology at Her Majesty's Penitentiary (HMP) in St. John's which will allow individuals in custody to make first and routine appearances at provincial court without leaving the correctional facility.

The Honourable Felix Collins, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, along with Chief Judge D. Mark Pike of the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, viewed the technology today in Courtroom Number 4 at provincial court.

"The use of videoconferencing should increase efficiency at the court, as well as reduce transports of inmates and the time individuals spend at the St. John's lock-up and the holding cells at Atlantic Place," said Minister Collins. "We also anticipate that this initiative will further increase inmate and public safety."

Renovations have taken place at HMP to provide space for court appearances via videoconferencing, which includes room for inmates to speak with legal counsel, a holding area and an area for the appearances. The upgrades took place over a period of two months from July to August 2010, and construction was completed with the assistance of staff and inmates. Upgrades have also taken place at provincial court to provide a dedicated videoconference unit in Courtroom Number 7 which provides a link to HMP and other correctional institutions throughout the province. In addition, a private room was created with a direct phone line to HMP that enables lawyers to speak privately with clients.

"The provincial court has been utilizing videoconference technology for a number of years," said Judge Pike. "Now that corrections have come on board with their purchase of videoconferencing equipment, this will augment and improve upon case processing efficiency with less movement of prisoners."

The provincial court has been using videoconferencing since 2002 in Labrador, with all provincial court centres equipped with videoconferencing capacity by 2008. As well, videoconferencing is in use at the Newfoundland and Labrador Correctional Centre for Women and the Newfoundland and Labrador Youth Centre and a videoconference unit has been purchased for the Labrador Correctional Centre which will be operational in the near future.

"The Task Force on Criminal Justice Efficiencies indicated that videoconferencing should be in operation to benefit both the courts and adult corrections," added Minister Collins. "I am pleased to see this technology, which has proved successful at provincial court, now in use at HMP. I applaud the hard work and dedication of all court and corrections staff that have helped ensure we continue to offer an effective and efficient court system."

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Media contact:

Jennifer Tulk
Director of Communications
Department of Justice
709-729-6985, 699-6524
JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca