Concerns raised over Saint John correctional centre after wanted man is accused of murder

An inmate at large has raised questions about security at the Saint John Correctional Centre.

A recent homicide in Saint John, N.B., where one of the three people accused was unlawfully at large when the murder occurred is raising questions about the security of an uptown correctional facility.

On Oct. 6, the Saint John Police Force issued a warrant for Mackenzie Moir for allegedly breaching conditions of his statutory release. Police said he had failed to return to the Parrtown Community Correctional Centre, which is a hallway house for criminals nearing the end of their sentence.

Moir was arrested by New Brunswick RCMP in Oromocto, about 50 minutes north of Saint John, on Oct. 23.

While he was unlawfully at large, Moir was allegedly involved in a homicide in the city’s north end on Oct. 20. He was charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm while prohibited on Nov. 19.

The recent incident has raised questions about the overall security of the uptown facility.

The Parrtown Community Correctional Centre is a federal facility that, as of 2019, could house up to 26 inmates at a time with a pair of parole officers on staff. It is responsible for looking after anyone who’s been convicted of a criminal offence and is nearing the end of their sentence.

The facility has 24-hour supervision and strict procedures on curfew and leave privileges. It also offers access to mental health, addictions and correctional programming, as well as employment and educational counselling.

It is one of only two facilities of its type in the Maritimes, with the other located in Halifax. Those who stay at Parrtown are more often than not from outside of Saint John.

For the majority of those staying at Parrtown, it is their last stop before re-entering society.

While no one from the facility was made available for an interview, in an emailed statement to CTV News Atlantic, Correctional Services of Canada says protecting the safety and security of those who live in the community is a top priority.

“Offenders residing at Community Correctional Centres (CCCs) are closely monitored, including whenever they leave for approved activities, such as work programs or reintegration meetings outlined in their personalized correctional plan,” the statement reads in part. “Staff track offender movements and remain aware of their whereabouts during community absences.”

Those who don’t return and have their location become unknown are considered unlawfully at large. It quickly leads to a warrant being issued for the suspect’s immediate arrest.

“Parole Officers draw on multiple sources—including police, family members, and program staff—to maintain awareness of each offender’s circumstances, intervene when rules are broken, and address issues that could lead to reoffending,” the statement reads.

According to the federal government, parole is only granted on a discretionary basis to those who pose a low risk of reoffending.

The recidivism rate of federal offenders released on parole is low, with less than one per cent returning to custody by committing a new violent offence during their community supervision period.

In 2021-22, nearly 91 per cent of federal offenders on either day or full parole sentences were successful in completing their served time. Of the nine per cent who don’t, 88 per cent of them do so because of a breach in conditions as opposed to a new offence.

Overall, facilities like this in Canada see around 80 per cent of all inmates placed in these centres not recommit violent acts within the first three years of their release.

“Using a step-down model, research has shown that there’s value in helping a person transition from a facility back into the community while still getting a lot of support,” says Mary Ann Campbell, who is the director for the centre for policing and criminal justice research at the University of New Brunswick Saint John.

She mentions those who are moved to facilities like Parrtown and granted parole are done after a review of their file by the Parole Board of Canada.

She says, like anything, things don’t always go perfectly and those on parole do commit offences.

“We only hear about the times when it goes sideways or someone’s been hurt as a result of that person being on parole,” Campbell points out. “We can get a skewed perception about whether that’s working or whether it’s safe, but the statistics provided by Correctional Service of Canada generally support that it works for most people who go through the step-down phase.”

Saint John police deal with around 15 to 20 people who are unlawfully at large from Parrtown annually. So far in 2025, six people who were unlawfully at large allegedly recommitted a crime before being recaught, but police note not all of those instances happened in Saint John.

Staff Sgt. Shawna Fowler says local police have a good working relationship with Parrtown, and issuing warrants for people who are unlawfully at large from the facility does not add any more to the average day for officers.

“Parolees are going to be released into the community regardless of what we do,” she says. “It’s important to have those plans in place, and to have those good working relationships with Correctional Service Canada to make sure that we get people reintegrated into society in the best way that we can.”

Saint John Mayor Donna Reardon says she has heard very little from residents over concerns surrounding the facility.

Reardon says she does have some questions about the facility given the frequency of warrants being issued for people considered unlawfully at large from Parrtown.

“I don’t know what the protocols and procedures are, and I don’t know if police are involved in the protocols and procedures,” says Reardon. “Is there a safer way to provide that service? Especially where it’s in the heart of the uptown.”

When asked if the uptown is the right place for a facility like this, Reardon says it isn’t an issue if the proper measures are in place.

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