Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP)

Privacy impact assessment summary

Electronic Sharing of Offender’s Information Via InfoPol with Police Forces

InfoPol is a bilingual database designed by Correctional Service Canada (CSC) to electronically share offenders’ personal information with police forces about offenders serving federal sentences who are paroled in the community or are actively being sought (suspended or revoked, unlawfully at large, escaped).

Police forces will access this information through a virtual private network (VPN) using an internet connection. The system also allows for the exchange of electronic correspondence between CSC and the staff and officers of police forces which will provide additional capability for the direct and timely exchanges of essential information about the offenders.

The purpose of the PIA was to examine CSC’s plans to allow police forces to electronically access some of the personal information that it keeps about offenders through InfoPol.

The assessment demonstrates that the proposed information sharing method was developed in accordance with the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, the Privacy Act and the Government of Canada Security Policy.

Privacy risks have been identified as part of the assessment and are being addressed.