Media Room

Welcome to the CSC Media Room!

Our aim is to maintain positive relations with the media and to provide timely, accurate and meaningful information.

Access to Information and Privacy

CSC is subject to the Young Offenders Act, the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, all of which limit the personal information that CSC may share publicly.

It is recommended that members of the media familiarize themselves with CSC Commissioner’s Directive #022 on Media Relations. This directive ensures that CSC balances the need for providing information while respecting legislated limitations of what we may discuss publicly. All Commissioners’ Directives are available at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/plcy/toccd-eng.shtml.

Correctional Service of Canada Mandate

The CSC mandate, as set out in the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, is to contribute to the maintenance of a just, peaceful and safe society by carrying out sentences imposed by the courts. CSC does this through the safe and humane custody and supervision of offenders with sentences of two years or more. It also assists in the rehabilitation of offenders and their reintegration into the community as law-abiding citizens through the provision of programs in penitentiaries and in the community.

Correctional System in Canada—Facts

CSC does not make decisions on parole. The National Parole Board is the organization of the criminal justice system that makes independent conditional-release and pardon decisions, and clemency recommendations.

Public Safety Canada’s publishes an annual report entitled Corrections and Conditional Release Statistical Overview. In a user-friendly fashion, this document provides an array of statistical information on corrections and conditional release, and on crimes, offender population, corrections administration, crime trends, and other aspects of Canadian corrections.

The CSC Departmental Performance Report highlights progress made in key priority areas over the past fiscal year and reports on departmental strategic priorities identified in the 2008–2009 Report on Plans and Priorities.

Transforming Corrections

In April 2007, the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, appointed an independent panel to review CSC's operational priorities, strategies and business plans as part of the Government's commitment to tackling crime.

The Panel made 109 recommendations, around five themes, including offender accountability, eliminating drugs from prison, offender employability to enhance reintegration, improving physical infrastructure, and moving to earned parole.

In 2008, CSC adopted a new a Transformation Agenda focused on public safety and on ensuing consistency, integration and accountability throughout Canada’s corrections system.

The Government officially responded to the Report in Budget 2008, committing $122M over two years to ensure CSC is on track to respond comprehensively to the Panel's recommendations.

In February 2008, CSC established a Transformation Team to lead CSC's response to the recommendations, and is starting by focusing on "quick wins"-immediate achievements with lasting public safety results. The Transformation Agenda covers the following themes:

• Enhancing offender accountability
• Eliminating drugs
• Enhancing correctional programs and interventions
• Physical Infrastructure
• Strengthening Community Corrections

Minister and CSC Officials

CSC is headed by the Commissioner of Corrections, who is supported by an Executive Committee of national and regional members. The Commissioner in turn reports to the Minister of Public Safety Canada.