NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 Corrections Act cannot be enacted into force without an independent correctional investigator, said the deputy minister of justice Stephen Mansell on April 26 during the Legislative AssemblySA国际影视传媒檚 follow-up review on the report of the auditor general of Canada on corrections in Nunavut.
The Act, which received assent in June 2019, focuses on a rehabilitative approach, taking into account a prisoners mental health and also creates an independent oversight position. A position still left unfilled.
SA国际影视传媒淎nother very important piece of modernizing NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 corrections regime is bringing in the new Corrections Act into force,SA国际影视传媒� said Mansell.
The department ran a request for proposals for the independent correctional investigator without success in the fall of 2021, the position is required for several initiatives seen in the new Act.
Mansell added they donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to bring it into force without someone to enforce various sections of the Corrections Act. As it is an independent office, the employee will not be a part of the department of justice.
The challenges seen in case management also reflect a shortage of staff, one element of that according to the federal deputy auditor general Andrew Hayes, attending virtually, was the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. However he was optimistic NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 department of justice will be able to implement its advice from its 2015 audit and 2021 follow-up audit.
SA国际影视传媒淲e recognize that the department has had to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic along with staffing challenges. Nonetheless, the successful implementation of these recommendations will be important - to be able to achieve a correction system that promotes healing and the successful integration of inmates into society,SA国际影视传媒� said Hayes.
Programming and case management challenges
Challenges are still also seen with regards to case management and programming, admitted acting director of corrections Mickey McLeod, one such issue causing this is staffing.
SA国际影视传媒淭here are a number of factors that play into the effect of documentation and case management for our clients,SA国际影视传媒� he said. McLeod and Mansell added the construction of IqaluitSA国际影视传媒檚 Aaqqigiarvik Correctional Healing Facility will help both in providing more programming space and to alleviate overcrowding, which was a problem in the old Baffin Correctional Centre (BCC).
Phase one of the new Iqaluit jail is currently completed, and phase two is underway. Phase two involves renovating BCC, expanding its kitchen and building programming space in place of the old jail.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, there were strict restrictions placed on correctional staff that impacted capacity issues.
The vast majority of Nunavut prisoners are Inuit, with non-Inuit being SA国际影视传媒減robably in the single digits,SA国际影视传媒� said the deputy minister.
The department is looking to build more Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ), however it may take some time with most of the correctional staff being non-Inuit.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e been working on building cultural relevancy and IQ into all our directives. Our case managers arenSA国际影视传媒檛 all Inuit but weSA国际影视传媒檙e working hard on cultural competency training and weSA国际影视传媒檙e definitely taking into account the background of a client,SA国际影视传媒� said Mansell.
According to Mansell, the overall staff at the corrections division is 156, with Inuit comprising 46 per cent of the workforce.
When it comes to rehabilitating sex offenders, there is work needed on this front with Mansell saying SA国际影视传媒渢he federal government is quite a bit ahead of us on programming specific for sex offenders. WeSA国际影视传媒檝e been working hard to learn from their example and to incorporate some of that programming.SA国际影视传媒�
No sex offender programming is currently being offered at any of NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 correctional facilities.
While there is some mental health staff on-board on correctional staff for prisoners, such as a psychiatric nurse and a youth counselor, there is yet anyone to be hired for mental health support specific to addictions.
There were various other topics raised by the regular members of the legislature during those review, these ranged from specific community questions on Kugluktuk and Rankin, as well as the development of junior caseworkers, programming for parents, on-the-land trips for minimum security inmates and more during several hours of discussion.
ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 been a shift in approach during these past few years from the corrections side of things, taking into account the new Corrections Act and the federal audits, noted McLeod.
SA国际影视传媒淭here was a big shift in culture and in the facility and our relationship with our clients. In past years that relationship was very adversarial,SA国际影视传媒� said McLeod.
SA国际影视传媒淭here was a lot of conflict and not a lot of willingness and participation. That culture is changing and weSA国际影视传媒檙e working very heavily to try and develop a more restorative and positive working relationship with our clients, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 one of trust. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to rebuild some of that trust we lost along the way.SA国际影视传媒�
