Land in White Hills set aside for new penitentiary if necessary

A mix of federal and provincial land is available in the White Hills of St. John's for a new penitentiary when and if it's built, CBC News has confirmed.

In a statement, the Department of Transportation and Works said there is land available in the area, near Quidi Vidi Lake, to accommodatea new correctional facility without having to purchase new land. However, no decision has been made.

"Replacing HMP [Her Majesty's Penitentiary]is my number one infrastructure priority and it has been for years," Justice Minister Andrew Parsons said in a statement.

"I think we have reached a critical time. While we consider however, or if, a new facility can be achieved given our fiscal reality, we recognize there are things we can do right now to improve conditions for inmates."

• Justice department hires consultant to examine possible HMP replacement

Meanwhile, Parsons said a report by consultant EY (formerly Ernst & Young) into a value-for-money assessment has been finished, and is in the hands of government.

The report recommends the best financial way to move forward with a replacement. However, that recommendation has not been made public, and is being considered in the government budget process.

There have been many calls and unfulfilled promises for a replacement for the Victorian-era jail by politicians, both federally and provincially.

HMP is the oldest operating correctional facility in Canada, and to put it in perspective, the original structure was erectedthe same yearCharles DarwinpublishedOn the Origin of Species and Charles Dickens released A Tale of Two Cities.

Many renovations have been done over the decades,but those renovations haven'tstifled calls for a newer building.

Replace HMP with 'modern' design: new report

A new provincial correctional institution should replace HMP, according to a report released Wednesday afternoon.

It's one of 17 recommendations outlined in a review of four inmates who died while in N.L. prisons between August 2017 and June 2018.

The new building should "incorporate modern correctional design, dedicated space to address mental health, housing and programming needs" for prisoners, states the report.

Managers at HMP and the Clarenville women's prison face "many challenges" when it comes to the day-to-day operations, according to the review.

"Those challenges are more difficult for managers and staff in an aging facility," states the report.

"The lack of investment in modern facility is inhibiting progress in all operational areas which then impacts the well-being of staff and inmates."

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