Policy Bulletin

Policy Bulletin 512

Why were these policies changed?

These policies were modified in response to a Coroner’s Inquest. The changes are summarized below.

Enhancing Leadership and Oversight

  • The authority to chair the Institutional Segregation Review Board has been elevated. This requires senior leadership at the institutional level to be more involved in the segregation process.
  • Improvements have been made in order to enhance oversight and to have cases reviewed earlier by regional and national authorities. For example, the chair of the National Long-Term Segregation Review Committee now lies with the Director General, Security, and the Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Correctional Operations, or Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Integrated Services, will review cases over 60 days in segregation.
  • The daily visit by the Institutional Head to the segregation range/unit has been strengthened to include the requirement to inspect the conditions of confinement of all cells.

Enhancing Due Diligence

  • The policy includes a more structured assessment scheme, including the creation of a policy tool and user guide that will guide staff through mandatory legislative and risk considerations in segregation placements.

Enhancing Mental Health Assessment and Intervention

  • A mental health professional has been added as a permanent member of all the Institutional Segregation Review Boards.
  • There is now a requirement to assess all cases for mental health issues both at the outset and in the initial period of admission to segregation to determine whether a placement in a mental health bed is an appropriate alternative.
  • There is now a possibility for inmates with significant mental health needs to engage an advocate to assist in the institutional segregation review process.
  • The addition of the requirement for an executive regional review of cases with significant mental health needs who are admitted to segregation.
  • The addition of the requirement for an external review of cases with significant mental health needs who are admitted to segregation.

Other Changes

The Responsibilities section has been updated and enhanced to reflect the current organizational structure for the following positions: Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Correctional Operations, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Integrated Services, and Regional Project Officer responsible for segregation.

Changes to the CD include if there are reasonable grounds to believe that disclosure of information in relation to reasons for admission to administrative segregation would jeopardize the safety of any person, the security of a penitentiary, and/or the conduct of any lawful investigation, the Institutional Head has the authority to withhold from the inmate only as much information as is necessary to protect the interest identified.

Changes have also been made to the CD that allow an inmate who is absent from the Segregation Review Board to submit written representations to be considered by the Segregation Review Board.

Technical changes were made to the CD, which include the removal of the distinction between voluntary and involuntary segregation status.

How was it developed?

This policy was developed by the Correctional Operations and Programs Sector, the Policy Sector, the Health Services Sector and Legal Services. In addition, consultations were undertaken throughout the development of this policy with the following stakeholders: Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies, John Howard Society, Canadian Human Rights Commission, Office of the Correctional Investigator, international experts in the field of corrections and mental health, Regional Project Officers responsible for segregation, and unions.

Who will be affected by the policy?

Staff and contractors involved in the administrative segregation and correctional planning processes.

For more information

To learn about upcoming or ongoing consultations on proposed federal regulations, visit the Canada Gazette and Consulting with Canadians websites.