Article content“I’m sure some in the general public will say, ‘I can’t believe this,’ but it has been well planned and discussed,” he said. “It’s not ideal, but it’s necessary. It’s making the best of a bad situation.”Article content NAPE president Jerry Earle. Photo by Dylan DesRochesArticle contentArticle contentImpact of staff shortages well documentedArticle contentStaff shortages in Newfoundland and Labrador corrections have been well documented. Vacancy rates in the past have reached as high as 15 per cent, according to NAPE, and officers have reported burnout from long hours in the face of extra-long shifts to make up for a lack of staff.Article contentInmates have faced extended lockdowns, cancelled programming, delayed medical and dental care, and missed court appearances due to insufficient staffing numbers.Article contentThe courts have granted numerous offenders extra credit for time spent on remand at HMP for these reasons, as well as especially harsh conditions endured due to mould, rodents, poor ventilation and other issues at the Victorian-era prison.Article contentArticle content Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s. – SaltWire Network file photo Photo by SaltWire Network /SaltWire NetworkArticle contentThe Office of the Citizens’ Representative, which handles complaints from people over their interactions with provincial government, indicated in its 2023-2024 annual report that most complaints came from incarcerated individuals about issues to access services. Fifteen of those came from the NLCCW and focused on lengthy lockdowns and reduced access to showers, fresh air, phone calls, medical and dental care, rehabilitative programming, and court dates.Article content“Unfortunately, these situations can arise in adult corrections and are often compounded by the facility being at maximum capacity, staff shortages, and the complex needs and behaviours of those incarcerated,” the office stated.Article content“Additionally, institutions for women have policy requirements to ensure there is a female officer presence, and being the only women’s correctional facility in the province, the options for managing these complexities are limited.Article contentArticle contentThe concerns were raised with administration of the NLCCW and evidence confirmed that everything possible was being done during this challenging time for both incarcerated individuals and staff.”Article contentThe Justice department says more than 60 per cent of staff at the NLCCW are female, though it’s unclear whether that includes those who are currently on leave.Article contentRecruitment efforts prioritizing female, Indigenous applicantsArticle contentStatistics from the federal government’s Job Bank website indicate 23 per cent of the correctional officers working in Newfoundland and Labrador as of December 2024 were women.Article contentEarle said there have been times when the NLCCW didn’t have enough female officers on duty to meet the requirements. In some cases, female administrative staff have filled in, and officers have been sent to Clarenville from the already-strained HMP.
All inmates in NL women’s facility relocating to HMP amid correctional staffing shortage
