Previously, the two facilities were formally separate, though they were connected by a corridor and shared a gym.

[4][5] In August 2016, the prison had its first escape, when an inmate climbed a fence in the exercise yard, and onto the roof.

[6] Following the escape, the yard was closed to inmates, leaving them with less access to the outdoors or to cultural programs practiced there.

In 2017, inmates began a letter writing campaign to demand better access to programs and recreational opportunities.

[7] On August 17, 2023, an evacuation of the City of Yellowknife caused an escort of all inmates at NSCC to transfer to the Edmonton Remand Centre.