The main goal of the program is to empower women on their journey towards a positive, productive lifestyle. To fulfill this objective the Community Outreach Coordinator assists the women in attaining the necessary tools and coping skills to live successfully in their communities. The Community Outreach Coordinator performs the following tasks, but is not limited to:

• Complete intake of information for each woman requesting services;
• Assist in the development of a prerelease plan;
• Counsel provincial women on a weekly basis;
• Liaise with staff;
• Advocate on an individual or group basis for women incarcerated;
• Meet with Unit Administration to address ongoing concerns;
• Document all visit information (number of women on unit and in court, issues);
• Provide relevant information to women in conflict with the law.

Inmates within provincial prisons have been sentenced to less than two years incarceration. The Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility, located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, is the only provincial prison, which houses women. It is located in the Burnside Industrial Park on Gloria McClusky Ave. The prison is attached to the provincial forensic hospital

The Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility is a multi-level security prison. Prisoners are classified according to security risk. Both men and women are sent to Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility. The women's unit is smaller than the men's, as there are fewer female offenders. There are 48 beds designated for women within this prison, however to date the average number of women sentenced to provincial time is between 10-15. Each woman is assigned to her own cell. The women's unit is divided into four living units; each of these has twelve cells.

This is a non-smoking facility, which means that inmates and staff must refrain from smoking at all times. This policy includes times spent outside on the prison grounds. However, there is some controversy regarding this policy because individuals admitted to the forensic hospital may still smoke.

Individuals sentenced to more than two years incarceration will serve their sentence at a federal prison. Inmates must serve two-thirds of their sentence before they are able to apply for release. In general, women who have been given a federal sentence in Atlantic Canada go to Nova Institution for Women in Truro, Nova Scotia. There are no male prisoners at Nova. However, there are male staff members.

Nova Institution opened in 1995 and was built to house 28 women. However, the numbers of women sentenced to federal time quickly surpassed the number of beds available. Women not serving life sentences often had to share their room. This is known as “double-bunking”. Additional housing to alleviate this problem has been built and opened in 2001. A new building also recently opened for women with special needs. There are eight beds within this unit.

There are women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds at Nova Institution for women. Their crimes are usually of a more serious nature – assault, trafficking, etc. Women who are revoked from their parole also return to Nova to complete their sentence.

When a woman arrives at Nova, staff will explain which jobs are available and help her apply. She will be paid a very modest amount per day depending on whether she is working or not. Taking programs or going to school are considered jobs for which the women may be paid. Some of the jobs available are canteen assistant, librarian, and assistant librarian, data entry clerk and spiritual assistant.

Nova Institution runs two vocational training programs in Horticulture and Dog training. Women participating in the canine program are responsible for all aspects of the animal’s care and the dogs live in the houses with the women. Nova plans to introduce a Cleaning certificate program in the future.

Whether a woman is classified as minimum, medium or maximum is determined by the classification officer and is based on three main factors: the risk to offend violently, institutional behaviour and the offence(s) committed. Her classification level determines the house that a woman is assigned to live in. Currently, if you receive a minimum or medium classification, you will stay at Nova Institution.

Women may be paid for working as well as for attending programs, while at this institution. The only work available at this time however is cleaning.

Heather McKenzie is the Provincial Outreach Coordinator, and Nicole Farmer is the Federal Outreach Coordinator. To contact Heather you can email hmckenzie@efrynovascotia.com, and to contact Nicole by email write to nefarmer@efrynovascotia.com. You can contact either Nicole or Heather by telephone at 454-5041 in the local calling area of HRM, or toll free at 1-877-619-1354. If leaving a message please be sure to provide a telephone number where you can be reached.

Elizabeth Fry Society of Nova Scotia : efrymain@efrynovascotia.com