Nova Scotia looking to reduce number of sheriffs that escort prisoners

The union that represents the people who provide security at courthouses across Nova Scotia is warning of a possible change in policy that it says could make courthouses more dangerous.

When deputy sheriffs escort prisoners in and out of court, there are normally two guards for each prisoner. In cases of increased risk, the number of guards can be even higher.

The Justice Department is considering decreasing the number of guards to one for each prisoner, which is something the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU) disagrees with.

"Safety should be [at] the forefront, not based on somebody's dollar figure," said Dustin Rioux, a former deputy sheriff that now works with the NSGEU.

Province defends move

The director of sheriff's services for the Justice Department said safety will be the prime consideration when deciding whether a prisoner can be guarded by just one individual. He said some jurisdictions in Canada already follow that staffing model.

"We feel that in certain cases, for example, if you have somebody who has absolutely no risk attached to them and they're in custody, they can be safely taken into the courtroom with one person," said Fred Hildebrand.

Rioux worries that in a problematic situation, the time it will take to call for backup could be too long.

"There's going to be somebody that's going to be injured or worse," he said.

Halifax courthouse melee

The proposed change comes on the heels of a courthouse melee in Halifax on Monday when a man charged with second-degree murder following a weekend shooting made his first court appearance.

As the accused was being escorted out of the courtroom, someone in the courtroom rushed toward him. Several people pushed toward the deputy sheriffs. One deputy was knocked to the ground, but was not seriously hurt. Police officers then entered the fray and calmed the situation.