Prison Archives - Page 4 of 12 - Nova Scotia Advocate

Media release: Former correctional officer at the Nova Institution for Women arrested on charges of sexual assault against prisoners

May 11, 2020 1 Comment

News release: Today, The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) – along with the Atlantic Elizabeth Fry Societies – have learned that a former Correctional Officer at the Nova Institution for Women was arrested and charged with 6 counts of sexual assault, 6 counts of breach of trust, and 1 count of trying to procure sexual service – all related to his work at the Institution.

Press Release: #FreeThemAllCaravan from Halifax to Vancouver demands prisoner releases

April 26, 2020

oday, Abolition Coalition member groups from coast-to-coast will drive past sites of confinement and hold online caravans to demand freedom for prisoners and migrant detainees subject to the violence of the Canadian carceral state during the pandemic.

“Free them all,” say prison and migrant justice advocates across Canada

April 23, 2020

Pressure has been mounting throughout the country for the release of prisoners and migrant detainees. While federal officials have delayed action, COVID-19 infections continue to spread like wildfire throughout Canada’s prison system. Stacey Gomez reports.

Jamie Livingston: Freedom on hold: COVID-19 shines a light on ongoing institutional injustices

April 19, 2020 1 Comment

As of March 2020, twenty people who have been deemed ready for discharge are detained at the East Coast Forensic Hospital. They are needlessly placed at an elevated risk for acquiring COVID-19 in addition to being exposed to numerous other ethical, legal, social, and health issues.

Press release: As COVID-19 spreads inside federal penitentiaries and prison towns, advocates call upon Prime Minister Trudeau to call-off the Pause Patrol and release as many prisoners as possible

April 16, 2020

Press release: Prisons kill on a ‘normal’ day and Minister Blair’s inaction runs the risk of contributing to premature deaths at this critical time. The Abolition Coalition remains steadfast in its message to Minister Blair – #DontKillBill, #ReleaseSavesLives, #CleanOutPrisons now! If action is not taken in the days ahead, Prime Minister Trudeau needs to #DisbandThePausePatrol and bring a new sheriff in town to clean-up the mess unfolding in penitentiary bay.

PSA: Don’t kill, Bill! Release prisoners, stop the spread of COVID-19

April 13, 2020

PSA: On Tuesday April 14 please join a twitter storm and email campaign to demand the release of as many prisoners as possible from federal custody. Delaying release places us all in danger.

Government should do much more to protect institutionalized people with disabilities during the pandemic

March 20, 2020 1 Comment

We rightly hear a lot about the COVID-19 related risks faced by people incarcerated in Nova Scotia’s jails and prisons. What is more or less forgotten is that the 800 to 900 citizens labeled as living with disabilities who live in institutions in this province are facing the very same risks.

Why some Canadian prisoners should be released during the coronavirus pandemic

March 18, 2020

“Prisoners are an often forgotten part of the public, and prisons are a public health disaster. Now is the time to decarcerate for good. Reducing the population behind bars is a first step to protecting prisoners from COVID-19, and supports creating alternatives to prison in the long term,” writes Martha Paynter.

Open letter on the urgency of reducing incarceration during COVID-19 pandemic

March 16, 2020

Open letter: At this time the only adequate defence to the spread of COVID-19 inside our jails, and consequent preventable deaths, is strategic decarceration — i.e., ensuring that admissions and numbers of prisoners held in facilities are as low as possible, consistent with public safety.

Urgent open letter re health, safety and human rights of people in prison during COVID-19 crisis

March 15, 2020

In this terrifying time we are deeply worried about folks inside. WWW and all volunteer orgs have had our access to provincial facilities suspended completely and indefinitely. The prisoners may only have non-contact visits and 2 free phone calls per week. No action has yet been taken to reduce the burden through temporary releases, etc.
East Coast Prison Justice Society, Elizabeth Fry Societies (NS Mainland and Cape Breton), Women’s Wellness Within, and the NS Prisoners’ Health Coalition co-wrote the following letter.