Correctional Services Act to Be Proclaimed This Year

  • Justice and Public Safety

April 11, 2019

The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General, will introduce amendments to the Correctional Services Act that will facilitate seeing the Act proclaimed and regulations coming into force over the next year.

First introduced in 2011, the Act was drafted to align with recommendations made in the Decades of Darkness Report and best practices in other provinces and territories. A comprehensive review of the Act determined minor amendments were needed to update language; other changes reflect a greater emphasis on the health care needs of inmates. The next step will be to finalize regulations prior to proclaiming the Act.

The Correctional Services Act outlines a grievance procedure for inmates, a new disciplinary process, and focuses on the specific needs of offenders. Proclaiming the Act was the number one recommendation of the Deaths in Custody Review released earlier this year.

Quote
“I am pleased we are now in a place where we are finalizing the regulations and adjudication process prior to proclaiming the Act into force. We will continue to examine our correctional system to ensure it supports both inmates and staff to ensure a safe working and living environment.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons
Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General

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Learn more 
Ministers Accept Recommendations of Independent Review of Inmate Deaths

Deaths in Custody Review PDF

Decades of Darkness – Moving Towards the Light PDF

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Media contact
Lesley Clarke
Justice and Public Safety
709-729-6985, 699-2910
lesleyclarke@gov.nl.ca

2019 04 11 1:00 pm