Nova Institution for Women

About the Institution

Nova Institution for Women is a multi-level security facility located in Truro, Nova Scotia. The institution is based on a residential - women's multi-level design model where offender accommodations are residential houses, a residential-style living unit, and a direct observation living unit. It is one of five regional facilities for women across Canada.

The facility operates eight separate homes containing single-bedroom accommodations for between five to seven women per house. Two other living units operate to support the Intensive Intervention Strategy for Women for the purpose of providing additional mental health and security for those women who require it. The Structured Living Environment (SLE) Unit can accommodate up to eight offenders who require specific mental health intervention, while the facility's Secure Unit can accommodate up to 10 maximum-security women. The Secure Unit also incorporates Nova's Segregation Unit which consists of three cells.

As part of CSC's efforts to encourage inmates to become law-abiding citizens, CSC offers various national correctional programs.

Work is now underway to increase capacity at the institution. Construction of two new seven-bed houses and four additional SLE spaces is expected to be complete in 2013-2014. Delivery of correctional and rehabilitation programs is also being expanded.

Facility Characteristics

• Institution for women offenders
• Security level: multi-level
• Date opened: 1995
• Rated capacity: 81