Dorchester Penitentiary

Dorchester Penitentiary is a multi-level security male facility located in the community of Dorchester, New Brunswick, next to the Village of Memramcook. The land for Dorchester Penitentiary was purchased in 1865 from the Honourable Edward Barron Chandler, one of Canada’s Fathers of Confederation. Dorchester Penitentiary opened on July 14, 1880. It is the second oldest continuously operating corrections facility in Canada.

In April 2014, Correctional Service of Canada marked key milestones in the implementation of several initiatives related to ongoing transformation and renewal, as several institutions across the country were merged, including Dorchester Penitentiary and neighbouring minimum-security Westmorland Institution. As a result, Dorchester Penitentiary, Westmorland Institution, and the Regional Treatment Centre now operates as one institution with medium and minimum sites, under one management team.

Dorchester Penitentiary (medium) has a few structures designated as Recognized Heritage buildings by the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office.

Dorchester Penitentiary has medium and minimum security level sites and a multi-level Regional Treatment Centre (RTC). The minimum security site is a residential design model and the rest of the institution is a medium security site with dome design model. 

Medium security site rated capacity: 397

Minimum security site rated capacity: 302