News release

Investigation Begins into Arrest of Corrections Officer

Justice

The province has begun an internal investigation after the arrest of a corrections officer at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth.

On Thursday, Oct. 25, Halifax Regional Police and RCMP arrested an employee in front of the correctional facility in Burnside and charged him with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Correctional Services staff took part in the investigation and the employee has been removed from the workplace pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

"I am very concerned about these allegations. I want to assure Nova Scotians that we take the safety and security of our correctional facilities very seriously," said Justice Minister Ross Landry.

The internal investigation will help the province decide what action to take in this particular case, and whether changes are needed at the facility. It is not possible at this point to say how long that investigation will take or what the outcome might be.

"While these allegations are disturbing, it's important to remember that our corrections officers do difficult work with offenders every day. They have a tough job, and I have confidence in their abilities and their professionalism," said Mr. Landry.

"We will get to the bottom of this incident as soon as we can, and make whatever changes are necessary."