How COVID-19 has impacted prisoners in Pictou County
COVID-19 precautions are being taken at the North East Nova Scotia Correctional Facility to prevent an outbreak of the virus, its superintendent told the Municipality of Pictou County during a recently meeting.
Paul Young, superintendent of the provincial prison located on Sherbrooke Road, Pictou County, said during a presentation to council that staff was doing direct supervision since the prison opened in 2015, but because of COVID-19 concerns, inmates are now monitored more remotely.
The North East Nova Scotia Correctional Facility is one of four institutions in the province and the second largest in Scotia. It is able to hold a maximum of 196 inmates but typically operates 75 percent full. The offender population is comprised of people who are either provincially sentenced, remanded, immigration, parole violations, or newly sentenced to a federal custody term. Young said the average stay in the prison is 46 days. It employs 140 people and it offers several offender programs that assist with a person’s reintegration in the community.
Under direct supervision, correction officers are in the living units with up to 40 inmates which helps relationships develop between the two groups and staff can better determine if someone is having a bad day or needs extra attention so they can intervene more quickly.
However, since COVID19 came to Nova Scotia, inmates are now being monitored from more of a distance because it is believed that if the virus is going to enter the prison, it would most likely be from a staff member bringing it into the facility.
Young said he believes the direct supervision model works best and has been adopted by a second provincial institution in Dartmouth, but until COVID-19 restrictions are eased, it will not be re-instated.
In a response to questions from The News, media relations advisor for the
Department of Justice stated that Correctional Services has worked directly with Public Health to develop and implement a robust COVID19 prevention plan in the provincial correctional facilities.
“We have worked proactively to protect the health and safety of those in our custody and our staff from the virus,” she said. “Among the measures we have been taking, and continue to take, include reducing the numbers of individuals in custody, enhanced cleaning, screening upon admission by Correctional Services and NSHA staff, staff screening at the beginning of each shift, enhanced use of personal protective equipment, and daily screening questions and check-ins with inmates and staff with resources to assist in coping with the stress of the pandemic.”
Like all Nova Scotians, Fairbairn stated that inmates are reminded to practice good hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette and use physical distancing, where possible.
“While some restrictions on programming and visitation were needed to mitigate potential risks, we have put additional resources in place to ensure inmates can connect with their families and loved ones by phone and video,” she stated. “Where appropriate, we have been using video court to support inmates and the Courts since COVID began.