Increased camera surveillance and the hiring of more part-time staff are among steps being taken to deal with escalating violence at Nova Scotia's largest jail, which a union official warns is in a state of crisis.
Justice Minister Ross Landry announced the additional security measures Monday less than a week after the latest incident at the troubled Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility, where an inmate suffered serious injuries last week.
Officials announced Friday that the inmate suffered serious injuries in a fight among inmates Thursday night at the jail in Halifax. Police said the 39-year-old man suffered head injuries, but no other details have been released by either police of Justice Department officials.
Landry also said the province's director of correctional services, Sean Kelly, would move his office to the jail to devote all of his time to issues at the facility.
"I want to make sure the person that's overseeing all of the correctional facilities can have a more hands-on approach within this facility," Landry told a news conference. "Until we get it (the jail) to the level that we are satisfied, we will continue to be committed and focused on how we make this the safest institution in the province."
The changes include the hiring of 30 more part-time staff and upgraded camera surveillance around cells and the facility's day rooms.
Jail guards will also be equipped with a hand-held wand-type device that can record information during required rounds of the cell blocks, something officials said would help increase accountability. Landry said the wands will cost $160,000, while the video upgrades will cost about $10,000. He said the money would be found within his department's current budget.
Meanwhile, the minister said his department would continue to work with the union representing guards and with the jail's administration to improve policies and working conditions.
"This is a priority and safety is the primary focus," said Landry.
Joan Jessome, president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union, said the changes can't come quickly enough.
"From talking to the correction officers ... there is a sense of crisis here and it needs to be fixed," said Jessome.
She said morale has long been a problem for guards who are overworked and suffer from a strife-laden relationship with management.
Jessome warned the improvements wouldn't amount to much if additional staff aren't hired to help control an inmate population that includes some of the province's most dangerous offenders.
"We've got too many of our correctional officers being injured on the job and being burned out because of what they are being exposed to," she said.
On Aug. 27, an inmate attacked a guard, leaving the guard slightly injured.
Another guard was injured last month after being stabbed by an inmate with a pen.
A day earlier, an officer was punched by an inmate while on escort duty.
There was also the reported slashing of an inmate in July and another stabbing and a disturbance involving 17 inmates in June.
