Nunavut justice officials seek solutions to overcrowded jail

Talks are underway among Nunavut justice officials to find ways to ease severe overcrowding at the territory's primary jail.

Overcrowding has been a chronic problem at the Baffin Correctional Centre in Iqaluit which mainly houses adult inmates so Nunavut's cabinet asked the Justice Department to come up with solutions to the problem. One option already brought up is to house some inmates in the Young Offenders Facility, located next to the jail.

Officials are exploring other possible options with corrections staff, said Alan Hartley, Nunavut's director of correctional services.

Baffin centre officials have been "very encouraged that we're actually looking at this seriously," Hartley told CBC News. "They've been facing increasing pressure over years."

In addition to the Baffin Correctional Centre and the youth facility, Nunavut has a small corrections facility in Kugluktuk and a halfway house in Iqaluit.

A new territorial jail is expected to open in Rankin Inlet in 2011. As well, a separate women's facility in Iqaluit is scheduled to be ready next year.

To deal with the lack of space at the Baffin jail, the department already sends some inmates out of the territory. Hartley said Nunavut has an agreement with an Ottawa jail to house up to 15 inmates there.

As well, he said a memorandum of understanding exists with the Northwest Territories government to keep 40 to 50 inmates in that territory.

That memorandum of understanding is being re-negotiated. If the arrangement is finalized, it could cost Nunavut up to $3.5 million a year to send inmates to the N.W.T.

"We have the capacity to handle it, and it's actually a source of revenue for us. And you know, we're quite happy to help out at this end," said Colin Gordon, the N.W.T.'s director of court services.

Nunavut corrections officials are expected to submit their proposal to cabinet within weeks. No timeline has been set for any final decisions.