Let's Talk

Commissioner's Editorial

Safe Transition of Offenders into the Community

Before I turn to the focus of this issue of Let’s Talk — safe transition of offenders into the community —  I want to mention how proud I am that we have CSC employees working in Afghanistan, helping to build a secure and democratic society. As you see in the article opposite, Linda Garwood-Filbert and Ric Fecteau had the opportunity to meet with Public Safety Canada Minister Stockwell Day the day before they left. Minister Day thanked them for their willingness to contribute to Canada’s efforts in Afghanistan, and wished them every success in the coming months.

Linda and Ric have serious work before them, but I am confident that they are up to their task. Through dedicated employees like Linda and Ric, we are making a real contribution to bringing stability to the correctional systems of war-torn countries. In this magazine, you will also read about CSC employee Thérèse LeBlanc’s successful mission to Afghanistan last summer. Her work laid the groundwork for Linda and Ric’s current deployment.

Readers of Let’s Talk learned about CSC’s strategic priorities in past issues, and heard about CSC employees in all parts of the country who are making a public safety contribution. We chose these priorities to guide our efforts in delivering the best possible public safety results, while responding to the changing offender population profile, and the Government’s tackling crime agenda. This year, we will continue to focus on these same priorities in order to maximize our contribution to public safety.

This issue of Let’s Talk focuses on a priority that affects all aspects of our work: safe transition of offenders into the community. This is because CSC’s efforts in this regard begin when offenders come through the doors for assessment, and continue through  their re-entry into the community.

The articles focus on how CSC supports offenders’ successful reintegration with the help of a host of people and programs — including chaplains, parole officers, volunteers and others who help offenders prepare for release, and Circles of Support and Accountability and others who support them after release. You will also read about the important role a family can play in a successful conditional release, and the role of other partners who support successful reintegration of offenders into the community, including law enforcement agencies and community partners.

Our strategic priority to improve our capacities to address mental health needs of offenders will be the focus of the next edition of Let’s Talk.♦

Keith Coulter
Commissioner
Correctional Service of Canada