Careers

Narrator:

We are the Correctional Service of Canada.

Our mission: as part of the criminal justice system and respecting the rule of law, we contribute to public safety by actively encouraging and assisting offenders to become law-abiding citizens, while exercising reasonable, safe, secure and humane control.

We do this with pride and passion… for the people of Canada.

Ron:

I believe without a doubt that the Correctional Service of Canada is by far one of the finest correctional systems that we have operating in the world.

We know we're world leaders because we've contributed across the world to many different jurisdictions. Part of what makes that unique for us is that not only do we assist other countries in their correctional systems, but we learn from other systems as well. We learn and we are ready to adapt to the changing needs of our offender profile.

Scott:

It's a big thing to come into an institution with a sentence hanging over your head that you're not overly pleased in… you're not all that good in spirits.

Tuan:

I've always been interested in the criminal justice system, and I look at it as a challenge working with a segment of the population that can be difficult and challenging. I like a good challenge.

Tanya:

It's not just about being a liaison in an institution. It's about sharing who you are as an Aboriginal person, sharing your knowledge of the importance of culture.

Ron:

We believe that they have the potential to change… and we've seen successes. We've seen many many successes.

Elaina:

Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to work in security. I like the fact that every day it's different.

Narrator:

We are 16,000 men and women, working in 57 institutions, 84 parole offices, 16 community correctional centers, four healing lodges, one national and five regional headquarters across the country, and linking directly to communities of all sizes in Canada. Together, we are responsible for the care and custody of approximately 13,000 offenders in institutions and the supervision of 8,000 offenders in the community.

We're building a strong, vibrant, and varied team of personnel that will move the Correctional Service of Canada well into the 21st Century and beyond. We can offer you a work environment that is completely unique… with challenges and opportunities like no other organization in Canada.

Greg:

I enjoy taking my nursing skills into the institution mainly because of the autonomy. You have a lot of independence; you have to make a lot of decisions on your own.

Dalila:

My job is to motivate, encourage, and support offenders in making healthier lifestyle choices and helping those who have made a decision to change their lives to reintegrate back into the community.

Danielle:

My job in the community is to try to get them to establish themselves. Get a good foundation, build roots, make connections with positive people, stay away from negative associates, build a different circle of friends or a different circle of support. And that takes a lot of leg work and sometimes it takes a lot of hand holding… but it's all worth it.

Scott:

Working on the institution and fixing various doors and locks, drywall repair. They get to do the majority of the work themselves because I like to sit back and teach them, show them how to do it.

Tanya:

We have to find out the roots of why or what brought them into the institution. While they're in the institution, not only are they working towards learning about who they are as a native person, but they are also addressing what we call the dynamic or high-risk factors in their person, which cause them to come into the prison system.

Tuan:

As a CX inside the institution, we are the police officer, we are the first responder, we are first aid and we also act as counselors.

Narrator:

Our programs include a range of services for offenders, all aimed at increasing social and life skills and employability, and helping achieve the goal of reintegration.

Diversity? Yes. Opportunity? You bet.

This is a chance to contribute to public safety in an innovative, advanced environment. Correctional Services is about connecting people to hope and opportunity; connecting individuals to a variety of systems and communities to help them rebuild their lives.

Greg:

I guess for me the big thing is being non-judgmental. Personally I think anybody can be an inmate. You may be talking to someone they may have a drink, they may drive away, next thing you know they are in jail. They may be a good guy, they may be an inmate at the same time.

You can't go in judging them. Any kind of baggage you've had before you're going to have to leave at the door. You treat the injury, you treat the person.

James:

In the long run, seeing the effect you have on the inmate is what makes my work wonderful.

Scott:

If I can help them in any way feel good about themselves so that when they do get out in the working world that they can have some confidence when they leave – that's what my goal is to help them out. Then they can get out and maybe not do the stuff that got them in there, but they can do other things that will better themselves down the road.

Elaina:

If you like meeting different types of people and if you like to help as well, it's definitely a career that has many doors… many opportunities.

Narrator:

So what do careers with the Correctional Service of Canada mean?

Teamwork: Variety: Good pay, good benefits, and a variety options including shift work and regular hours positions.

The chance for growth and a solid career path…

If you're interested in changing lives, protecting Canadians, we'd like you to consider joining our team! Visit our site or talk to a recruiting team member – the Correctional Service of Canada.