John Haggie says changes coming to correctional care, in wake of latest inmate death

The province's health minister says the transition of services for inmates in correctional facilities to the Department of Health and Community Services will be completed within the next year.

John Haggieissued an update onTowardsRecovery: The Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador on Wednesday in St. John's, just days after inmate Chris Sutton was found dead inside Her Majesty's Penitentiary.

He saidhe's been speaking with Justice and Public Safety Minister Andrew Parsons in the wake of Sutton's death, and that they're discussing what additional measures need to be taken immediately to assist with the mental health care of inmates.

Haggieacknowledged that theHMPisn't an ideal place to house inmates.

"The news of the day when theHMPwas opened was prior to the First World War," he said.

"It's old, it's decrepit, and it's overcrowded."

Haggiesaid a health manager has recently been moved to corrections to help ensure the Department of Health is ready to take over correctional care by the end of the next 12 months.

"We want to make sure that [we can meet] the needs of the people who are in the correctional facilities," he said.

John Howard Society wants more care for inmates

The executive director of the John Howard Society in Newfoundland and Labrador says the number of deaths inside N.L. prisons isapproaching a crisis level.

"We have to treat people who are in the system with some dignity and respect, and that means that they should be able to be afforded the same level of care that we would receive in our communities," said Cindy Murphy.

On Tuesday, Murphy said that more needs to be done for the needs of inmates.

"Whether it's mental health, or health issues, or addictions issues, whatever the case may be they're entitled to that same level of care."

On June 30, Sutton killed himselfat Her Majesty's Penitentiary in St. John's.

His death is the fourth sudden death in the past year in N.L. prisons.

Last August, Doug Neary, a married father of two children, took his life at the prison.

More recently, Skye Martin and Samantha Pierceybothdied suddenly at the Clarenville Correctional Centre for Women in April and May, respectively.

"Clearly there's issues of overcrowding, there's the lack of resources, the wait times to get into programs, the high remand population, all of these are contributing factors I think to an efficient and effective correctional system," said Murphy.

One way to reduce overcrowding, said Murphy, would be to implement a bail supervision program.

"A bail program would help reduce the counts of people inside," she said.

"We know that 60 per cent of our correctional facilities is housing people whoaren't actually convicted yet."

The program would worksimilarlytoprobation, and allow certain individualsto stay out of jail while awaiting trialas long as they check in with their supervision officer and meet the conditions laid out for them.

• Community bail program could save N.L. nearly $300 a day per inmate

Changes needed before review finishes

An independent review into the inmate deaths is being conducted by former RNC Supt. Marlene Jesso, and Parsons has said he's awaiting the results before any changes are made to existing policies.

But Murphy thinks something needs to be done before the review is completed.

"Department of Justice really has to look at providing some additional mental health services in our correctional facilities. And that should happen sooner than later and not wait for the end of a independent investigation."

She said the deaths inside the prisons take a toll on both inmates and staff, and the current system is not working for anyone.

"Clearly it's not enough," she said.

"If people are committing suicide and not able to reach out and don't have the resources then something needs to change."

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