Corrections fixes underway, justice officials insist

The Nova Scotia Department of Justice has implemented fewer than half of the recommendations made following a series of prisoner escapes and mistaken releases.

Department officials provided the update Wednesday, a week after two other incidents were made public.

"I can't guarantee that there won't be a wrongful release or escape. When we implement the Deloitte report, I am confident that there will be less risk and there will be fewer in number," said Marian Tyson, deputy minister of justice.

Justice Minister Cecil Clarke ordered the review of the correctional system last year after several prisoners escaped or were released in error. The report by consulting firm Deloitte was released in December.

Of the 51 recommendations for change, 17 have been implemented and the rest are underway, justice officials said Wednesday. Most of the changes address admissions and discharge processes at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth, such as hiring more staff.

Officials said the departmenthas stepped up the changessince the two recent incidents. In both cases, the prisoners were allowed to leave after a court appearance instead of being sent back to jail because a form was filled out incorrectly.

Video conferencing planned

The department plans to use a pilot project involving video conferencing to reduce the need to move so many prisoners. Nova Scotia has one of the highest number of admissions and discharges of prisoners in the country.

Jim Gosse, with the union that represents correctional workers at five adult facilities in the province, said the department needs to address staffing problems.

"Offenders, unfortunately, will continue to be released in error until this employer decides that they're going to honestly sit down with the union and address the staffing issues and deficiencies that are taking place in these facilities," said Gosse, a leader with the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union.

Gosse agrees that human error is to blame for the two recent mistaken releases, but he said his members aren't properly trained.

Eleven people have beenreleasedin error or have escaped from custody inNova Scotia since December 2007.