Adult Correctional Facility Youth Isolation - Question Period
MS. CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice. On September 12th, Justice Anne Derrick rejected a request to have a young offender carry out the remainder of his sentence at an adult correctional facility. For over a year, this youth has been held in conditions described by Justice Derrick as "social isolation." I'll table that. She ruled that the youth should be returned to Waterville, where he can resume the important intensive treatment he had been receiving.
Senator Kim Pate also weighed in on this case, saying, "The fact that Nova Scotia correctional authorities have re-segregated the youth in the face of Justice Derrick's decision is shocking."
I'd like to ask the minister, was he aware that this youth had been held in segregation for over a year?
HON. MARK FUREY « » : I thank my colleague for the question. What's important here is that the health and safety of offenders and staff are both of paramount importance to our government. I want my colleague to know that we will respect the decision of the court. As we speak, Correctional Services and the IWK are working on a plan to facilitate the expectation of the court.
MS. CHENDER « » : Right now, Mr. Speaker, there is a national conversation happening about the use of segregation and close confinement in our justice system. Through an access-to-information request, our caucus has learned that the department has undertaken an internal review of its close confinement policies, and I'll table that. This is in contrast to the Province of Ontario, which conducted an independent review and released the results to the general public.
Advocates, the public, and front-line workers deserve to be involved in discussions of how to improve our justice system. I would like to ask the minister, will he commit today to tabling the results of the internal review here in this House?
MR. FUREY « » : One of the elements of that process is to gather information internally first and foremost to address policies and the existing circumstances. But as we evolve, Mr. Speaker, I'm more than prepared to share our findings with my colleague and members of this Legislature to ensure that we are all informed, and that we continue to prioritize the well-being of both our offenders and our employers who work in those facilities.
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