For Immediate Release
November 18, 2024
NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) wonders what it will take for government to seriously address the conditions for both inmates and workers at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary (HMP). This comes after a recently released ATIPP revealed that inmates are still forced to spend excessive time in lockdown and are still being denied medical treatment because of the shortage of correctional officers.
Dinn says that successive Liberal and Conservative governments have delayed true justice and rehabilitation for inmates for years.
“How long will it take to address the abysmal conditions at the Penitentiary?” asked Dinn. “I have met with the former Minister, I have written letters, my predecessors have done the same for decades. This government’s idea of a solution was to put a new trailer on the property. Great, in theory, but there still aren’t enough officers to ensure the delivery of the programs planned for the trailer. That’s not much of a solution.”
Dinn questions whether the government really believes their recruitment and retention efforts will work when they continue to expect people to work in such appalling conditions.
“This isn’t about people not wanting to work in the field. This is about workers refusing to work in such terrible conditions. These correctional officers are extremely important in delivering justice and the rehabilitation for inmates so that when they are finished their time, they can be active members of society. They deserve better,” said Dinn.
“So, I ask the Premier, what will it take for you to take meaningful action? We have seen inmates dying, rat infestations, nonexistent ventilation and sweltering conditions for all in the building. We have the horrific truth revealed in numerous reports, most recently one form the Auditor General. We have the Law Society demanding action. We have a continuing stream of horror stories from inmates and workers alike on how it feels to be trapped in that environment.
“This has already gone on too long – decades too long! Work on a replacement needs to happen immediately. If the safety of correctional officers and inmates were a priority, it would be done by now.”
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For further information, contact Stephanie Curran, Media and Communications Officer, NDP Caucus at 330-0328 (o), or stephaniecurran@gov.nl.ca
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