Advocacy

We advocate for the fair and just treatment of vulnerable populations with our research, programs, and policy recommendations.

In Nova Scotia, our Correctional Facilities are required to provide safe and secure custody, direction and control of persons in custody, and to address dynamic criminogenic factors to successfully reintegration of offenders into the community (2016-17 Corrections Key Indicator Report).

Correctional Services is challenged to maintain safety and security across incarcerated groups with widely varying needs, and must also be responsive to issues of systemic injustice stemming from racism, poverty, or mental illness.

The John Howard Society in Nova Scotia understands many of the needs of criminalized people. Through our programs and services, men inform us of their conditions of confinement, issues and frustrations, and solutions to these problems:

  • Access to case management support, individual officers, and social workers

  • Access to educational, employability and recreation programs

  • Grievance resolution

  • Issues of air or cell quality or administrative segregation

  • Access to basic rights, safety, and healthcare, including mental healthcare

  • Effectiveness and availability of programs, including release planning support

  • Access to prescriptions or addictions treatment

  • Loss of personal effects

We are well placed to work with the incarcerated population to collect data on the above noted list of issues and to work with management to effect change. We will always advocate for incarcerated men, reviewing and suggesting improvements to programs and practices within the correctional system. An external process led by an independent, trusted and competent third party such as the John Howard Society results in high participation, honest feedback, trust, and implemented best practices for Nova Scotia. This generates better safety and health for both inmates and staff, and better programming and release planning outcomes.