Deaths in Nova Scotia Jails and Prisons

There is no requirement for public inquiry following death in custody in NS, NB, or NL: CBC news article.

Data for this record is taken from: novascotia.ca/just/updates.asp.

Unnamed
January 30, 2023

Male. Cause undeclared.

Unnamed
December 10, 2021

Cause undeclared.

Unnamed
May 12, 2020

Natural causes.

Unnamed
September 11, 2018. Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility.

Male. Cause undeclared.

Josh Evans
September 10, 2018. 29-years-old. Burnside.

Suicide.

“Evans’ family says he had the mental capacity of a seven-year-old and had previously been diagnosed with velocardiofacial syndrome.” — link

“the victim was on remand and in a transition day room — a space for people with mental health issues or other challenges who do not meet the criteria to be housed in the forensic part of the jail.” — link

Unnamed.
November, 2016. 38-years-old. Burnside

Found unresponsive in cell. Male. On remand. — link

Jason Marcel LeBlanc
January 31, 2016. 42-years-old. Cape Breton Correctional Facility.

Overdose. “The medical examiner also says the video shows the inmate’s breathing started to slow at 1:50 a.m. and it took 45 minutes before corrections officers found him lying unresponsive in his cell.” — link

“If my son had been taken to the hospital with his history of drug addiction ... he might have lived today." — link

Camille Strickland-Murphy
July 28, 2015. 22-years-old. Nova.

Suicide using a plastic bag. “Her obituary refers to a "disordered mind that caused her much suffering and also adversely impacted others," and yet "she highly valued and built strong and enduring friendships." — link

Veronica Park
April 24, 2015. 38-years-old. Nova

“She began complaining of a sore throat in April and asked for medical help due to chest pain. The pain got worse, and on April 24, the 38-year-old Corner Brook woman died after being taken to hospital.” — link

Clayton Cromwell
April 7, 2014. 23-years-old, Burnside.

“Cromwell died lying on a mattress on the floor of his jail cell on April 7, 2014. He had a fatal mixture of methadone and benzodiazepine, according to autopsy findings reported by the Canadian Press. Cromwell was not in the methadone program.” — link

“Cromwell was in the jail awaiting a hearing on alleged probation violations.” — link

“Cromwell's wing was on lockdown since the previous day, and correctional officers were aware inmates had been ‘all pilled up.’” — link

“An emergency intercom in the Burnside jail unit of a man who died of a methadone overdose had been improperly disabled by guards who regarded it as a nuisance.” — link

Unnamed.
July 7, 2013. Burnside

Male. Found unresponsive in cell. https://novascotia.ca/just/updates.asp

Unnamed.
March 6, 2012. 25-years-old. Burnside

Male. Found unresponsive in cell. (overdose). On remand. https://novascotia.ca/just/updates.asp

Unnamed.
January 18, 2012. 44-years-old. Southwest Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Yarmouth

Male. Suicide. On remand. https://novascotia.ca/just/updates.asp

Unnamed.
July 25, 2011. 48-years-old. Burnside.

Male. On remand. https://novascotia.ca/just/updates.asp