Commissioner's Directive

Institutional Supervision Framework

PURPOSE

  • To establish a framework for monitoring, intervening, assessing and documenting inmates' progress and change towards meeting the objectives of their Correctional Plan throughout their period of incarceration, while assisting in the protection of society as the paramount consideration and promoting timely reintegration

APPLICATION

Applies to staff responsible for risk management and correctional interventions

RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. The Senior Deputy Commissioner will determine when and to what institution an inmate will be transferred from the Special Handling Unit.
  2. The Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs, following consultation with the Deputy Commissioner for Women in cases of women inmates, and when supported by the Regional Deputy Commissioner, is the final decision maker for:
    1. the reclassification to medium security of an inmate serving a life sentence for first or second degree murder, or an inmate convicted of a terrorism offence punishable by life, who is currently classified as maximum security, prior to the first security classification review
    2. the reclassification of Dangerous Offenders to minimum security
  3. The Regional Deputy Commissioner will:
    1. designate a person at Regional Headquarters as the contact person in the case of emergency transfers and inter-regional transfers
    2. approve:
      1. all transfers for assessment to the Special Handling Unit
      2. any escorted temporary absences for reasons other than medical where the duration is more than five days but less than 15 days
      3. pursuant to subsection 18(2) of the CCRA, any work release exceeding 60 consecutive days
    3. forward to the Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs, for a final decision, recommendations:
      1. to reclassify to medium security an inmate serving a life sentence for first or second degree murder, or an inmate convicted of a terrorism offence punishable by life, who is currently classified as maximum security, prior to the first security classification review
      2. to reclassify a Dangerous Offender to minimum security
    4. be the final decision maker if he/she disagrees with the Institutional Head's recommendation:
      1. to reclassify to medium security an inmate serving a life sentence for first or second degree murder, or an inmate convicted of a terrorism offence punishable by life, who is currently classified as maximum security, prior to the first security classification review
      2. to reclassify a Dangerous Offender to minimum security
    5. ensure any policy gaps are promptly communicated to the Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs
    6. ensure that significant staff safety issues are dealt with as outlined in the Employee Protection Program Guidelines
  4. The Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Institutional Operations, will:
    1. communicate institutional supervision policies to operational units
    2. provide support to operational units
    3. conduct operational reviews of policies and procedures on a regular basis

  5. The Institutional Head will:
    1. implement policies in support of institutional supervision and establish a process to monitor compliance
    2. ensure compliance in relation to the accuracy and timely completion of the Security Reclassification Scale/Security Reclassification Scale for Women and the corresponding assessment of inmate security classification
    3. ensure a process is in place for the maintenance and monitoring of the Correctional Plan
    4. forward to the Regional Deputy Commissioner, for a decision, recommendations:
      1. to reclassify to medium security an inmate serving a life sentence for first or second degree murder, or an inmate convicted of a terrorism offence punishable by life, who is currently classified as maximum security, prior to first security classification review
      2. to reclassify a Dangerous Offender to minimum security
    5. be the final decision maker if he/she disagrees with the Case Management Team in the following cases:
      1. the reclassification to medium security of an inmate serving a life sentence for first or second degree murder, or an inmate convicted of a terrorism offence punishable by life, who is currently classified as maximum security, prior to the first security classification review
      2. the reclassification of a Dangerous Offender to minimum security
    6. ensure procedures for high profile offenders are followed pursuant to CD 701 ’ Information Sharing
    7. ensure processes outlined in CD 784 ’ Information Sharing Between Victims and the Correctional Service Canada are respected
    8. ensure that a process is in place for inmates to be assigned to an institutional Parole Officer and a Correctional Officer/Primary Worker within two working days of the inmate's admission to the institution
  6. The Assistant Warden, Interventions, will:
    1. work in cooperation with the Associate District Director, where operationally possible, to involve the Elder, Aboriginal Liaison Officer and Aboriginal Community Development Officer in all decisions regarding inmates following a healing path
    2. establish a process to ensure that the Case Documentation Checklist is complete
    3. chair the Correctional Intervention Board
  7. The Manager, Assessment and Interventions/Manager, Intensive Intervention Strategy, will:
    1. participate in the Correctional Intervention Board
    2. ensure continuity of the Correctional Plan
    3. ensure institutional case management practices, interventions, and release strategies are in line with requirements and developed in cooperation with community managers
    4. provide supervision of and guidance to Parole Officers through regular case conferences to ensure the quality of reports
    5. ensure any issues related to safety and security are identified and actioned
    6. ensure consistent information sharing practices pursuant to CD 701 ’ Information Sharing
  8. The Correctional Manager will:
    1. establish and maintain a quality control process for all documents completed by the Correctional Officer II/Primary Worker
    2. follow-up on any outstanding actions identified in the Structured Casework Record
    3. ensure any issues related to safety and security are identified and actioned
  9. The Security Intelligence Officer will:
    1. disclose security intelligence information to staff as required
    2. prepare a gist of protected intelligence information, as required

PROCEDURES

  1. The Institutional Supervision Framework is comprised of the following stages:
    1. CD 710-1 ’ Progress Against the Correctional Plan ’ identifies the processes and requirements relating to the monitoring, assessment and documentation of inmate progress and changes to the Correctional Plan
    2. CD 710-2 ’ Transfer of Inmates ’ identifies the activities and requirements relating to the transfer of inmates between institutions
    3. CD 710-3 ’ Temporary Absences ’ identifies the activities and requirements relating to temporary absences
    4. CD 710-4 ’ Perimeter Security Clearance ’ identifies the activities and requirements relating to perimeter work clearances
    5. CD 710-5 ’ Judicial Review of Parole Ineligibility ’ establishes the standards and procedures when an inmate submits an application for a judicial review
    6. CD 710-6 ’ Review of Inmate Security Classification ’ identifies the activities and requirements relating to the ongoing monitoring and review of an inmate's security classification
    7. CD 710-7 ’ Work Releases ’ identifies the activities and requirements relating to work releases
    8. CD 710-8 ’ Private Family Visits ’ identifies the activities and requirements relating to private family visits

ENQUIRIES

  1. Strategic Policy Division
    National Headquarters
    Email: Gen-NHQPolicy-Politi@csc-scc.gc.ca

Commissioner,

Original signed by:
Don Head

ANNEX A

CROSS-REFERENCES AND DEFINITIONS

CROSS-REFERENCES

GL 005-1 ’ Institutional Management Structure: Roles and Responsibilities
CD 081 ’ Offender Complaints and Grievances
CD 568 ’ Management of Security Information and Intelligence
CD 700 ’ Correctional Interventions
CD 701 ’ Information Sharing
CD 702 ’ Aboriginal Offenders
CD 705-3 ’ Immediate Needs Identification and Admission Interviews
CD 705-4 ’ Orientation
CD 705-6 ’ Correctional Planning and Criminal Profile
CD 706 ’ Classification of Institutions
CD 710-1 ’ Progress Against the Correctional Plan
CD 710-2 ’ Transfer of Inmates
CD 710-3 ’ Temporary Absences
CD 710-4 ’ Perimeter Security Clearance
CD 710-5 ’ Judicial Review of Parole Ineligibility
CD 710-6 ’ Review of Inmate Security Classification
CD 710-7 ’ Work Releases
CD 710-8 ’ Private Family Visits
CD 726 ’ Correctional Programs
CD 730 ’ Inmate Program Assignment and Payments
CD 767 ’ Ethnocultural Offender Programs
CD 768 ’ Institutional Mother-Child Program
CD 784 ’ Information Sharing Between Victims and the Correctional Service Canada

DEFINITIONS

Case conference: a formal meeting, consultation or discussion about an offender between two or more individuals.

Correctional Intervention Board: a multidisciplinary team that approves interventions and contributes to recommendations or decisions for complex cases. The Interdisciplinary Mental Health Team is considered a component of the Correctional Intervention Board.

Dangerous Offender: an offender who is subject to a designation by the court under section 753 of the Criminal Code.

High profile offender: an offender whose offence dynamics elicited or have a potential to elicit a community reaction in the form of significant public and/or media interest.

Security Reclassification Scale/Security Reclassification Scale for Women: a research-based tool used to assist in the assessment of the most appropriate level of security for an inmate.

For more information

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