|
(Halifax, September 21, 2022) – Nova Scotia’s confirmation that it will terminate its immigration detention contract with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is another win for migrant and refugee rights, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International Canada said today. The move follows a landmark decision by British Columbia on July 21 to terminate its own contract with the border agency.
Continue reading... |
Recent and Ongoing Projects.
ECPJS is a small but mighty organization that takes on many projects and initiatives each year. Prior to 2020, we were completely volunteer-led. In April 2020, we successfully obtained funding from the Law Foundation of Nova Scotia to enable us to hire our first staff person to support our Visiting Committee / Human Rights Monitoring project. Still, the vast majority of the work that we do is volunteer-led – speaking to the firm commitment of our members to prison justice in Atlantic Canada.
In fiscal 2019-2020, ECPJS took on a wide array of advocacy, legal education, law reform, and policy reform projects in four main areas: (1) jails and prisons, (2) COVID-19, (3) police, and (4) deaths in custody. An overview of each project is available below.
In fiscal 2019-2020, ECPJS took on a wide array of advocacy, legal education, law reform, and policy reform projects in four main areas: (1) jails and prisons, (2) COVID-19, (3) police, and (4) deaths in custody. An overview of each project is available below.
For a full description of projects, see the 2020-2021 Annual Report
| |||
JAILS AND PRISONS.
Visiting committee project
The ECPJS Visiting Committee works to ensure that the activity of provincial corrections is transparent and accountable to civil society. It does this by conducting periodic visits with prisoners in provincial correctional facilities, together with follow-up meetings with administration, to create a public record of prisoner concerns about institutional conditions and administrative responses.
The project is beginning with the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility (“CNSCF”) with the ambition of expanding to other provincial facilities in the near future.
Due to COVID-19, the focus of the Visiting Committee has shifted from in-person visits to a free phone line.
Prisoners can call a free 1-800 number (i.e., 1-877-589-9294) on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM.
Read more about the Visiting Committee in the Halifax Examiner here.
Visiting Committee Project Director: Laura Beach. Steering Committee: Harry Critchley, Adelina Iftene, Claire McNeil, Sheila Wildeman
The project is beginning with the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility (“CNSCF”) with the ambition of expanding to other provincial facilities in the near future.
Due to COVID-19, the focus of the Visiting Committee has shifted from in-person visits to a free phone line.
Prisoners can call a free 1-800 number (i.e., 1-877-589-9294) on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM.
Read more about the Visiting Committee in the Halifax Examiner here.
Visiting Committee Project Director: Laura Beach. Steering Committee: Harry Critchley, Adelina Iftene, Claire McNeil, Sheila Wildeman
PRO BONO SUPPORT FOR PRISON LAW CASES
Each year, East Coast Prison Justice engages students through the pro bono students programme at Dalhousie University's Schulich School of Law, to assist with legal research in support of prison justice in Nova Scotia and beyond.
Update to Human Rights in Action
View the HRIA Handbooks
Human Rights in Action (“HRIA”) is a resource that was initially created by ECPJS project director Hanna Garson when she was a law student. The project was led by Elizabeth Fry (NS Mainland) and modelled on a federal handbook created by the federal organization of Elizabeth Fry Societies.
ECPJS Board member Sheila Wildeman supervised a team of Dal pro bono students who worked diligently to revise the handbook in 2019-20, in light of many policy changes and new prison law decisions. The handbook was also revised to use gender-inclusive terminology. This way, the book can be used by all prisoners in Nova Scotia.
Human Rights in Action (“HRIA”) is a resource that was initially created by ECPJS project director Hanna Garson when she was a law student. The project was led by Elizabeth Fry (NS Mainland) and modelled on a federal handbook created by the federal organization of Elizabeth Fry Societies.
ECPJS Board member Sheila Wildeman supervised a team of Dal pro bono students who worked diligently to revise the handbook in 2019-20, in light of many policy changes and new prison law decisions. The handbook was also revised to use gender-inclusive terminology. This way, the book can be used by all prisoners in Nova Scotia.
ADVOCACY REGARDING ACCESS TO LEGAL AID FOR PRISON LAW
The issue of delivery of legal aid to prisoners has been of ongoing concern to ECPJS. In Nova Scotia, “summary advice” legal aid is offered for prison justice matters. Nova Scotia Legal Aid (“NSLA”) has approved Certificates for some prison justice matters, on an individual basis, usually when contacted by counsel advocating for representation. We have advocated directly to the Minister of Justice and the Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission for enhancement of minimal "summary advice only" and " certificate" prison justice legal aid. We continue to explore constitutional and other arguments in support of legal aid for prison law.
COVID-19 DECARCERATION.
COVID-19 DECARCERATION
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, ECPJS Board co-chair Sheila Wildeman worked as part of a coalition of civil society groups to push for reduced numbers in correctional facilities in light of the heightened risk of disease transmission in congregate living environments. Through this coalition ECPJS partnered with Elizabeth Fry Societies, Coverdale Courtwork Society, John Howard Society, Women’s Wellness Within, and then as the coalition grew to encompass arguments for increased attention and resourcing of community supports, also Direction 180, the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre, and others.
Through open letters, the coalition has been calling for COVID safe measures to be taken inside provincial jails.
Open Letters / Press Releases
Through open letters, the coalition has been calling for COVID safe measures to be taken inside provincial jails.
Open Letters / Press Releases
- March 15, 2020 open letter: Urgent open letter re health, safety and human rights of people in prison during COVID-19 crisis
- March 16, 2020 open letter: Open letter on the urgency of reducing incarceration during COVID-19 pandemic
- January 12, 2021 press release: Nova Scotia must protect human rights and reduce risks of COVID-19 in provincial jails
- April 26, 2021: Media release: COVID-19 risk mitigation in Nova Scotia’s provincial jails and mass preventative release]
- March 16, 2020: “Advocates call for temporary release of some inmates amid COVID-19 pandemic” CBC News Nova Scotia
- March 18, 2020: “Nova Scotia to grant temporary release to some inmates amid COVID- 19 pandemic” CBC News Nova Scotia
- March 19, 2020: “COVID-19: Curb jail populations in Nova Scotia, advocates urge”The Chronicle Herald
- March 24, 2020: “Clearing out the jails” The Halifax Examiner
- April 22, 2020: “Nova Scotia jail population almost cut in half under COVID-19 measures” CBC News Nova Scotia
- January 12, 2020: Group calls for action on appalling conditions at Central Nova Correctional Centre and East Coast Forensic Hospital [https://nsadvocate.org/2021/01/12/18705/]
- January 17, 2020: [https://globalnews.ca/news/7582002/prison-justice-coronavirus-nova-scotia-jails/]
- April 26, 2021: [Prison advocates demand prioritized vaccination for prisoners, correctional staff and support workers as province considers another mass preventative release][https://nsadvocate.org/2021/04/26/news-brief-prison-advocates-demand-prioritized-vaccination-for-prisoners-correctional-staff-and-front-line-support-workers/]
POLICE.
ALTERNATIVES TO THE DRUNK TANK
ECPJS Drunk Tank Advocacy Media Coverage
- January 15, 2020: “Drunk tanks criminalize addiction, advocates say.” The Chronicle Herald
- January, 21, 2020: “Advocates urge Halifax to build a ‘sobering centre’ instead of using drunk tanks.” CTV News Atlantic
- January 23, 2020: “Sobering centres are ‘far more humane than the drunk tank.’” The Coast.
- January 26, 2020: “A ‘sobering centre’ in Halifax could prevent alcohol-related deaths.” Halifax Today.
- August 5, 2020: “Halifax police want at least $40,000 to release five years of cells data through freedom of information.” The Halifax Examiner
NOVA SCOTIA POLICING POLICY WORKING GROUP
NS PPWG Media Coverage
- June 15, 2020: “New coalition calls for changes to Halifax police commission” CBC News Nova Scotia
- July 20, 2020: “Nova Scotia concerned citizens coalition calls for public hearings into police defunding” Global News Nova Scotia
- July 21, 2020: “Defunding the police is still a problem for Board of Police Commissioners” The Coast
- July 22, 2020: “Halifax councillor seeking ‘broad review’ exploring ‘alternatives to policing’” The Halifax Examiner
- July 24, 2020: “Why Halifax’s police board needs its own lawyers” The Halifax Examiner
- August 16, 2020: “For many advocates of cutting police funding, doing so is hard – even when municipalities are on side.” The Globe and Mail
DEATHS IN CUSTODY.
BILL 180: FATALITY INVESTIGATIONS ACT
In the Fall of 2019, ECPJS members learned that the provincial Liberal government had proposed significant changes to the Fatality Investigations Act. The proposed amendments took the form of new review committees for deaths in domestic violence situations and deaths of children in care of the province. The proposed reforms followed the death of Greg Hiles at East Coast Forensic Hospital, which had led ECPJS members to call for mandatory reviews of deaths in custody – calls not heeded in the reform process that followed.
VIRTUAL VIGIL FOR DEATHS IN CUSTODY
In December 2019, ECPJS, in partnership with the Black Power Hour, Elizabeth Fry Societies (Mainland and Cape Breton), Women's Wellness Within, the Dalhousie Prison Justice Society, and Coverdale Courtwork Society, launched a 10-day virtual vigil in solidarity with the Justice for Soli campaign and in remembrance of those who had died in state custody, including in prisons, jails, and psychiatric hospitals. The vigil featured posts memorializing those who had died, including Soleiman Faqiri, Corey Rogers, Victoria Paul, and Greg Hiles. The vigil also features original art and poetry by currently and formerly incarcerated people.
