Latest news with #HerMajestysPenitentiary
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'It's just been very rewarding': Executive director reflects on 3 decades at John Howard Society
The first time Cindy Murphy walked through the doors of the John Howard Society was in 1992. At that time, she didn't have any intention of working in corrections, but a guest speaker in a university class piqued her interest about a volunteer program at Her Majesty's Penitentiary. "I just had this feeling that this was … probably a good place for me," Murphy said. "That I could probably hope to make some kind of difference here." And 33 years later, she's walking out the door for the last time as she retires from what she calls an amazing career. The John Howard Society is a non-profit organization that works with people in the criminal justice system. Its goal is to reduce and prevent crime, educate, and reform through restorative justice principles. "I just kind of knew that was my place," Murphy said, sitting in her office on Pennywell Road in St. John's. A bouquet of flowers sits on a cabinet — a retirement gift from a client — and a homemade retirement card on her desk. "I think the work is rewarding," Murphy said. Murphy has spent the last couple of months reflecting on her two decades as the executive director, and as a volunteer before that. She said the time she's spent in the community, working with people in the justice system, held lessons that she will take with her. "I think one of the biggest ones is understanding that people are more than just a criminal record, you know. So understanding that they are human beings who deserve support and understanding … that they're just not about locking people up and throwing away the key. That people are so much more than that," she said. And it's not an easy line of work advocating for people in the system, working with the government for change and balancing public opinion about incarceration. That, she said, has been one of the biggest challenges of her career. She said people should be held accountable for their actions and crimes, but punishment is not just about incarceration. "When someone is punished, they lose their freedom. That is the punishment," she said. "But it doesn't mean that we continue to punish them day in and day out by subjecting them to inhumane conditions, many of which we've seen at HMP as an example, for many, many years." The headlines over the last three decades haven't always been lighthearted. Rats in HMP, overheating, overcrowding, and generally unfit living conditions for inmates have been some of the challenges that Murphy has taken on. And over the last 33 years, a lot has changed. But, she said, there's lots of work to be done. "I don't think there'll ever be a time when John Howard services will no longer be needed," she said. Murphy said the society is seeing more people than ever before come through their doors, there's more women in the system than ever before, and problems like overcrowding at HMP are still present. WATCH | 'I just knew that this was my kind of place,' says longtime executive director of the John Howard Society: She said these issues have been neglected. "If you incarcerate people, then you have to provide them a certain service and supervision and rehabilitation because that's what the Department of Justice mission statement is all about," she said. "And so I think we have failed in many ways." Murphy said something she regrets is not having more preventive work, which she says the society is working on. "There's so many missed opportunities to work with young people further upstream than trying to solve the problems of criminal justice after the fact," she said. And now, as she's closing the door on this chapter, another door is opening. The provincial government broke ground on a new prison facility last week, a milestone Murphy has been advocating for for years. "I'll believe it when I see it," Murphy laughed. She said it's been a long time coming, but she's optimistic. That will be a task for her colleague Melissa Noseworthy, who Murphy is delighted to see take the reins. So, what will Murphy miss the most from her long and storied career? The people. "There's no question about that," she said. "When I think about the longevity, the people I've met, the people I've worked with, our board of directors, and of course the clients that we serve day in and day out, it's just been very rewarding." Now, she said she's looking forward to relaxing with her family, travelling, and maybe some volunteer work. Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'It's just been very rewarding': Executive director reflects on 3 decades at John Howard Society
The first time Cindy Murphy walked through the doors of the John Howard Society was in 1992. At that time, she didn't have any intention of working in corrections, but a guest speaker in a university class piqued her interest about a volunteer program at Her Majesty's Penitentiary. "I just had this feeling that this was … probably a good place for me," Murphy said. "That I could probably hope to make some kind of difference here." And 33 years later, she's walking out the door for the last time as she retires from what she calls an amazing career. The John Howard Society is a non-profit organization that works with people in the criminal justice system. Its goal is to reduce and prevent crime, educate, and reform through restorative justice principles. "I just kind of knew that was my place," Murphy said, sitting in her office on Pennywell Road in St. John's. A bouquet of flowers sits on a cabinet — a retirement gift from a client — and a homemade retirement card on her desk. "I think the work is rewarding," Murphy said. Murphy has spent the last couple of months reflecting on her two decades as the executive director, and as a volunteer before that. She said the time she's spent in the community, working with people in the justice system, held lessons that she will take with her. "I think one of the biggest ones is understanding that people are more than just a criminal record, you know. So understanding that they are human beings who deserve support and understanding … that they're just not about locking people up and throwing away the key. That people are so much more than that," she said. And it's not an easy line of work advocating for people in the system, working with the government for change and balancing public opinion about incarceration. That, she said, has been one of the biggest challenges of her career. She said people should be held accountable for their actions and crimes, but punishment is not just about incarceration. "When someone is punished, they lose their freedom. That is the punishment," she said. "But it doesn't mean that we continue to punish them day in and day out by subjecting them to inhumane conditions, many of which we've seen at HMP as an example, for many, many years." The headlines over the last three decades haven't always been lighthearted. Rats in HMP, overheating, overcrowding, and generally unfit living conditions for inmates have been some of the challenges that Murphy has taken on. And over the last 33 years, a lot has changed. But, she said, there's lots of work to be done. "I don't think there'll ever be a time when John Howard services will no longer be needed," she said. Murphy said the society is seeing more people than ever before come through their doors, there's more women in the system than ever before, and problems like overcrowding at HMP are still present. WATCH | 'I just knew that this was my kind of place,' says longtime executive director of the John Howard Society: She said these issues have been neglected. "If you incarcerate people, then you have to provide them a certain service and supervision and rehabilitation because that's what the Department of Justice mission statement is all about," she said. "And so I think we have failed in many ways." Murphy said something she regrets is not having more preventive work, which she says the society is working on. "There's so many missed opportunities to work with young people further upstream than trying to solve the problems of criminal justice after the fact," she said. And now, as she's closing the door on this chapter, another door is opening. The provincial government broke ground on a new prison facility last week, a milestone Murphy has been advocating for for years. "I'll believe it when I see it," Murphy laughed. She said it's been a long time coming, but she's optimistic. That will be a task for her colleague Melissa Noseworthy, who Murphy is delighted to see take the reins. So, what will Murphy miss the most from her long and storied career? The people. "There's no question about that," she said. "When I think about the longevity, the people I've met, the people I've worked with, our board of directors, and of course the clients that we serve day in and day out, it's just been very rewarding." Now, she said she's looking forward to relaxing with her family, travelling, and maybe some volunteer work. Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
CTV News
26-06-2025
- CTV News
CTV National News: Trouble with plans to replace Canada's oldest and largest prison
Her Majesty's Penitentiary in St. John's, Newfoundland, a rat-infested prison older than Canada itself, is set to shut down. Garret Barry has the details.
CTV News
17-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
One of Canada's oldest, most notorious prisons to be replaced
After decades of debate, there are finally signs of a replacement to the notorious Her Majesty's Penitentiary in St. John's, N.L., one of Canada's oldest operating prisons. Correctional officers have complained about heat, mold, strong toxic smells and 'serious rodent issues' at the prison, according to documents revealed under Access to Information legislation. Conditions have become so bad that multiple inmates have received extra credit towards their sentences — known as 'Duncan' credit — in recognition of the particularly harsh circumstances inside the prison. Newfoundland and Labrador's Provincial Government announced Monday that an 'early works agreement' has been signed with a contractor that will allow some preliminary site work to begin. The provincial government and contractor New Avalon Corrections Partners is also working towards concluding an agreement to build a new prison, which is estimated to cost almost $700 million. 'Despite the inflated price tag and challenge, as I call it, we remain steadfast in our commitment to getting the project done,' said Transportation and Works Minister Elvis Loveless. Her Majesty's Penitentiary Newfoundland and Labrador officials say the new prison will cost almost $700 million. Price estimates for the project have soared, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Loveless and other provincial government officials have blamed inflation for the change in budget, which was once about $400 million. The ceremonial groundbreaking on Monday is the closest the provincial government has stepped in years to replacing the decrepit, 166-year-old penitentiary. The notorious prison is often excruciatingly hot and odorous and tensions among prisoners are at an almost permanent boil, according to St. John's defence lawyer Erin Breen. 'When you walk in, in the summertime in particular, it's a wall of heat and stench that hits you,' she said. Staffing issues, according to Breen, have frequently led to lockdowns inside the prison where inmates must be kept inside their cells in order to maintain safety. 'They're not getting access at all to fresh air or outdoor air. Very rarely do they get recreation at all,' she said. 'You're subjecting people to things that you would think that in 2025, in Canada, just could not happen.' Her Majesty's Penitentiary replacement St. John's defence lawyer Erin Breen appears for an interview on the replacement for Her Majesty's Penitentiary in St. John's, N.L. Previous replacement attempts This week's groundbreaking ceremony marks the latest — but not the only — attempt to replace the ailing prison in recent years. An attempt in 2019 stalled over concerns with rising costs. 'It has always been a difficult priority politically,' John Haggie, Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Justice, said Monday. 'It is a hard sell for a lot of people. And quite frankly, that doesn't make it any the less important.' Haggie deflected some responsibility from his own provincial Liberal party for the decades of delay by alleging the provincial government was in such bad shape when they were first elected that officials were more concerned about making payroll than replacing infrastructure. Monday's announcement still came without definitive timelines on when the new facility will be built, or when prisoners could be moved over. The early work agreement allows for the installation of site fencing and some soil and groundwork. Breen says she's still skeptical that a new prison will be built. 'I'm sure everyone has the best of intentions, but, you know, will things change? Will suddenly costs skyrocket and the thing gets called off again?' she asked. 'It's difficult after so many years to trust…particularly in light of the fiscal situation that we're in.'
