Opposition blames government silence on issues at Her Majesty's Penitentiary

    Wednesday, 6 December 2023 12:00

    By Tonya Organ

    Helen Conway Ottenheimer says there are problems that need immediate attention and they’re concerned about government’s silence.

    The province’s opposition justice shadow is blaming the Justice Department for issues at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s. Helen Conway Ottenheimer says there are problems that need immediate attention and they’re concerned about government’s silence. She says this is the second death in four months and we still haven’t heard what happened to the man who died there in August, 35-year old Seamus Flynn died after being transported from HMP to a hospital on Saturday. Conway Ottenheimer says they’re still waiting to hear if the prison will be replaced and even if it is, that’s 5 years away. She says something needs to be done in the interim to ensure conditions are fit for inmates and staff. Conway Ottenheimer says the union leader is saying correctional staff don’t want to work there because of the conditions. She says minor offenders housed at the penitentiary don’t have to be there and can be easily supervised in the community with using ankle bracelets for example. 

     

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