The third annual report on the Conditions of Confinement in Nova Scotia Provincial Jails outlines concerns around the protection of the health and safety of provincially incarcerated people. The concerns are similar to concerns raised in previous years. Specifically, the report identifies disruptions to “essential medications upon incarceration and failure to meet the standards of care in place in other provincial correctional health systems on providing supports…to persons with substance use problems”.

The report also identifies concerns around access to Indigenous spiritual supports, including but not limited to lack of daily access to smudging.

Importantly, in Nova Scotia, more than 70% of the provincially incarcerated population are in jail pre-trial and have not yet been found guilty or innocent. Many face issues of social exclusion and discrimination.

The East Coast Prison Justice Society Visiting Committee 2022-2023 Annual Report is published online here: https://www.eastcoastprisonjustice.ca/uploads/1/3/8/1/138152103/ecpjs_vc_annual_report_2022-23__final_.pdf.

Details included in this post were gleaned from a September 17, 2024 press release entitled, East Coast Prison Justice Society Visiting Committee Report on Conditions of Confinement in NS Provincial Jails.