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A New Safety Measure for Correctional Officers

Safety and security for staff and offenders in our institutions

BY Bill Rankin, Communications Officer, Communications and Citizen Engagement

Photo: Bill Rankin

One more protective tool for correctional officers will soon be standard issue thanks to an agreement between the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) and the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO). Stab-proof protective vests will be worn by all correctional officers who have direct contact with inmates in maximum and multi-level-security institutions and in the segregation areas of medium-security facilities.

After the tendering process is completed and the contract awarded, sample vests will be tested independently at an RCMP lab and by CSC staff to ensure that safety standards are met. Then the manufacturer will visit each institution to take employee measurements before going into full production. After the approximately 2500 vests are completed and distributed to institutions across the country (18 months), they will be issued to all staff at the same time. A reserve of 150 vests will be maintained at the CSC national distribution centre.

Composed of protective panels inside a nylon exterior, the vests weigh in at approximately 3.5 pounds—far lighter than the dual-purpose ballistic type worn by police. The vests will be worn over the correctional officer’s shirt and are designed to blend in with the rest of the uniform. ♦