News release

All Visits to Correctional Facilities Suspended to Prevent COVID-19

Justice
COVID-19

In the interest of the health and safety of inmates, their families, Correctional Services staff and the public, Nova Scotia’s correctional facilities will be closed to all visitors until further notice, effective immediately.

Lawyers who need to speak with their clients, who are in custody in correctional facilities, should contact the facility after noon on Monday, March 16, to arrange alternative methods of communication.

During this time, inmates will be able to make extra phone calls.

These public health safety measures apply to the Nova Scotia Youth Centre in Waterville, and the province’s four adult correctional facilities: the Cape Breton Correctional Facility in Sydney; the Central Nova Correctional Facility in Dartmouth; the Northeast Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Priestville, Pictou Co. and the Southwest Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Yarmouth.

These safety measures are being made with the guidance of public health officials and will be reassessed on a daily basis. Nova Scotia Correctional Services works closely with public health officials to ensure plans are in place at all times to mitigate the spread of any contagious virus or disease in the province’s correctional facilities.

Additional Resources:

Provincial Government Public Health Website: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus