Justice and Public Safety
March 1, 2016
Ensuring Safety in Correctional Institutions
Female Inmates to be Temporarily Housed in Intermittent Unit at Her Majesty's Penitentiary
The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety, provided details today on a temporary measure to hold female inmates at Her Majesty's Penitentiary (HMP) in St. John's. This decision arose due to the sharp increase in inmate numbers at the Newfoundland and Labrador Correctional Centre for Women in Clarenville in recent weeks.
"Housing female inmates at Her Majesty's Penitentiary is necessary at the present time to ensure the safety and well-being of the inmates and our staff. The Newfoundland and Labrador Correctional Centre for Women has a capacity of 26 women and the average daily count for February was 36 inmates while several females are also being regularly held at the St. John's Lockup. This puts a significant strain on the inmates and the staff. Renovations are being made to the intermittent unit at HMP to ensure there is absolutely no interaction between male and female inmates and we are also working to ensure that staffing requirements are met. I stress that this is a temporary measure and women will only stay at HMP when it is absolutely necessary."
- The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety
The renovations being made at HMP will ensure that the intermittent unit is fully self-contained and that the female inmates will have access to their own washrooms, showers, common room, kitchenette and outdoor recreation area.
Prior to making this decision, Minister Parsons discussed the situation with the John Howard Society and the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women and both organizations recognized the need for this action and provided valuable input. The Office of the Citizen's Representative and NAPE have also been notified.
Minster Parsons will be available to discuss this issue today at 4:30 p.m. outside of the House of Assembly, East Block, Confederation Building
QUICK FACTS:
- Due to a recent increase in inmate counts, female inmates will be held at the intermittent unit at Her Majesty's Penitentiary as a temporary measure.
- The intermittent unit at HMP is being renovated to meet the needs of the female inmates and to ensure there is absolutely no interaction with male inmates.
- The Newfoundland and Labrador Correctional Centre for Women has a capacity of 26 women and the average daily count for February was 36 inmates while several females are also being regularly held at the St. John's Lockup.
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Media contact:
| Luke Joyce
Director of Communications Department of Justice and Public Safety 709-729-6985, 725-4165 lukejoyce@gov.nl.ca |
2016 03 01 2:45 p.m.