Department Receives Peer Review Report of
Psychiatric Services in Corrections

The Honourable Felix Collins, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, announced today that the department has received the external peer review of psychiatric services for corrections in Newfoundland and Labrador. The review was received on Wednesday, September 19.

“The department received the report yesterday afternoon and we are now in the process of carefully reviewing it,” said Minister Collins. “The health of all inmates in our correctional facilities is of the utmost priority.”

Following the 2011 report by the Office of the Citizens’ Representative on psychiatric prescribing practices at the province’s correctional facilities, the Minister of Justice requested a peer review be completed by a psychiatrist with forensic psychiatry experience and an understanding of corrections to determine whether inmates at the province’s correctional facilities are receiving appropriate psychiatric treatment.

Once the review of the report is complete, Minister Collins will be available to provide further comment.

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Media contact:
Vanessa Colman-Sadd
Director of Communications
Department of Justice
709-729-6985, 682-6593
vanessacolmansadd@gov.nl.ca 

2012 09 20             3:10 p.m.