Implementing The Life Line Concept: Report Of The Task Force On Long Term Offenders

INTRODUCTION

Commencing in the early 1980's, St. Leonard's House in Windsor began discussing improved and comprehensive methods to respond to the needs of offenders on life sentences. This effort culminated in a 1990 report prepared in partnership with the Correctional Service of Canada, National Parole Board and non-governmental organizations and funded by the Donner Foundation. This report set out the Life Line Concept. The first In-Reach Worker in Canada began work in 1991.

In 1991, Correctional Service of Canada adopted the report of its Task Force on Long Term Sentences. Its major recommendation was to adopt an overall strategy for managing long term sentences, defined as ten years or greater, developed according to four stages of the sentence:

• 1. adaptation - coming to grips with the reality of confinement;
• 2. integration to the prison environment - living within the context of that reality;
• 3. preparation for release - preparing for release in a progressive manner; and
• 4. reintegration into the community - assuring a coherent and continuous process leading to safe reintegration.

This model was accompanied by specific proposals to adapt all aspects of work with offenders to the special needs of lifers and long term offenders at each stage of the sentence. The report was accepted by Executive Committee and work commenced in the regions to implement it.

In 1992, a report was produced ("More Than a Matter of Time"), which outlined how the Life Line Concept could support implementation of most aspects of the 1991 Correctional Service of Canada Task Force Report. As a result of this report, it was agreed to hold consultations across Canada on the Life Line Concept, develop a five-bed residential facility in Windsor, and set up a resource centre for lifers.

In May, 1994, the Correctional Service of Canada Executive Committee adopted three principles to apply in working with long term offenders (defined as those serving sentences of ten years or more):

In 1996, the Correctional Service of Canada re-established the Life Line National Resource Group, a group made up of senior CSC and NPB officials and non-government partners, whose general mandate is to guide the development of programs aimed at assisting the offender to make more productive use of his or her time while in custody with a view to increasing the likelihood of timely release and safe reintegration to the community.

There are some observations that can be drawn from this review of the recent past.

1. It is important not to re-do past work. The team that developed the 1991 report reviewed the many previous reports and the literature on long term offenders, and it synthesized this with the recent implementation of the Correctional Service of Canada Mission Document to produce a strategy adapted to modern corrections. The National Liaison Committee reviewed the issues and provided recommendations to Correctional Service of Canada in 1994. Expansion of In-Reach services outside Ontario occurred in part in response to the 1991 report. The current Task Force has reviewed the 1991 report and the 1992 report "More Than a Matter of Time", and in some cases has drawn from them.

2. The work of the current Task Force advances implementation of key aspects of the 1991 and 1992 reports, with the major shift in emphasis of doing so in partnership made up of the Correctional Service of Canada, the National Parole Board and the non-governmental proponents of the Life Line Concept. It is also intended to set out a framework for the adoption of the Life Line Concept by the Correctional Service of Canada and the National Parole Board.