Minister Announces Mandatory Use of Protective Vests

The province is taking additional steps to protect the safety and security of staff and inmates at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility, Justice Minister Ross Landry announced today, Aug. 11.

Staff working at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility, are now required to wear protective vests at all times where there is any chance of contact with an offender, while working in the Burnside facility.

"During the past few days, there have been incidents where our correctional officers have been on the receiving end of violent behaviour exhibited by offenders," said Mr. Landry. "In addition to our zero-tolerance approach, mandatory use of protective vests is another appropriate action to lessen the risk of incidents like these from happening again."

The Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility is the largest of five provincial facilities and houses the province's most dangerous offenders.

The Justice Department is phasing in the policy. The majority of incidents occur in the north unit. To protect the safety and security of staff, it is now mandatory for those working in this unit to wear protective vests.

The facility's Occupational Health and Safety Committee has been consulted, and support the policy change.

Through preliminary results of an internal investigation, a new standardized preliminary incident report, and communications training for staff will also be implemented. This will improve the timely, consistent and accurate flow of information from the facility to the department and, ultimately, the public.

"We operate in an environment where criminal investigations and security intelligence can be of a confidential nature," said Mr. Landry. "But we also understand that the public has a vested interest in the safe operations of our provincial correctional facilities. We want to provide quick, accurate information, whenever we can."