Guidelines

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Policy Bulletin 287

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Annex A - Minimum Security Institutions

Annex B - Medium Security Institutions

Annex C - Maximum Security Institutions

Annex D - Women's Institutions

Annex E - Healing Lodges

OBJECTIVE

1. To set out CSC procedures and practices relating to Operational Adjustments in light of the implementation of National Standards for the Deployment of Correctional Officers. These Guidelines must be read in conjunction with Commissioner's Directive 004 - National Standards for the Deployment of Correctional Officers.

DEFINITIONS

2. An "Operational Adjustment" occurs when Correctional Officers are redeployed for a full or partial shift for the purposes of addressing or reinforcing another priority security activity, irrespective of whether the situation results from a material reduction in workload, an unplanned event, or an unanticipated staff absence for which no relief officer is available or required.

3. "Correctional Officer" is used generically to refer to CSC staff performing CX-type functions in institutions, including Primary Workers in Women's Institutions.

PRINCIPLES

4. Resource allocation relative to security activities at all sites is based on the National Standards for the Deployment of Correctional Officers.

5. The National Generic Post Orders define the primary duties set for Correctional Officer security activities at all sites. Institutions apply these Orders to all security activities, customizing them as necessary to reflect unique local conditions.

6. With the introduction of deployment standards, every security activity at each type of institution has been codified, thus providing parameters which identify such factors as how many Correctional Officers at what classification level should work on each shift, performing which duties and so on. For each defined security activity, the scope for Operational Adjustment has been generically established. Institutions will ensure that the Post Orders identify their respective Operational Adjustment component.

7. The concept of Operational Adjustment was developed to ensure fiscal responsibility by providing flexibility to redeploy Correctional Officers for a full or partial shift to other identified security activities while maintaining the required staffing levels for public, staff and inmate safety. As a corollary, when there is no activity in a security area at a given time, it is expected that the applicable Correctional Officer will be deployed to another priority security activity or will not be replaced when absent.

8. By their very nature, some types of security activities are always subject to Operational Adjustment (e.g.; Multi-function), while others are never subject to Operational Adjustment (e.g.; Main Communications and Control Post); and yet others may sometimes be subject to Operational Adjustment (e.g. Visitor Security on the evening shift after visitors have left the institution).

RESPONSIBILITIES

9. Institutional heads are responsible for ensuring that their institutions comply with the Standards and for maintaining a current Operational Adjustment Plan for the site. They will ensure that Post Orders are consistent with the National Generic Post Orders and that the scope for Operational Adjustment is duly reflected in each. They will also ensure that their Correctional Managers follow the TRA process when required.

10. Institutional managers are to apply these Guidelines in their overall planning and organizing activities for the institution.

11. Correctional Managers are to apply these Guidelines in their daily determination of post assignments. They are responsible for conducting an assessment for each shift to determine what security activities, if required, are to be operationally adjusted for a full or partial shift in accordance with the Standards and the Operational Adjustment Plan. They will ensure that the Operational Adjustment Risk Assessment Tool is applied whenever a TRA is required. A copy of the TRA will be given to the union representative upon request.

PROCEDURES

12. Each site must have an Operational Adjustment Plan, documented in advance, which identifies the parameters as to how the institution will adjust security activities in accordance with the Deployment Standards. Annexes A - E provide highlights of Operational Adjustment requirements excerpted from the Standards.

13. For each shift, an assessment will be made to determine if that shift's circumstances dictate an Operational Adjustment and, if so, what security activities are to be operationally adjusted for a full or partial shift.

14. Where the Standards indicate that a given security activity is subject to Operational Adjustment, sites may exercise discretion appropriate to the circumstances to determine the specifics of the adjustment (for a full or partial shift), while ensuring that this is duly documented.

15. There are a number of possible scenarios which may lead to the need for an Operational Adjustment that do not require a Threat Risk Assessment (TRA) to be completed. The examples below are indicative but not exhaustive:

1. An Officer is scheduled for a post, but there is no security activity to be performed for the full shift or part of the shift. The post would be operationally adjusted since the Officer is re-deployed to another security activity or not replaced. An example is an External Escort where no escorts are scheduled for the shift.
2. An Officer assigned to a specific post which requires specialized training (such as Security Maintenance Officer and Detector Dog Handler) is scheduled for a post. The post may be operationally adjusted (if the Officer is absent).
3. An Officer is scheduled for a post which is important to ensure the safety and security of the institution. Where there is no activity during a given shift (or part of shift), the post is to be operationally adjusted. An example occurs after inmate activities in the external yard have been concluded for the evening shift.
4. Certain security activities are based on the site's inmate capacities. When the actual count is below the threshold levels identified in the National Standards, the post may be adjusted. As an example, at minimum security sites, the standard is based on inmate bed capacity. If the actual inmate count falls below the threshold value, the site could operationally adjust to the corresponding level.
5. Normal operations may dictate that the security activity shall not be adjusted. However, if the institution is locked down, the site may not require the full complement of Officers or, conversely, more Officers may be needed during the lockdown period to facilitate searching.

16. A formal Threat Risk Assessment (TRA) is required when a security activity being adjusted has a material impact on the normal operational routine of the institution. To assist in the decision making process and for consistency purposes, the Operational Adjustment Risk Assessment Tool (CSC form 1295) must be completed. An example of where a TRA would be required occurs when one of the multi-function posts on the evening shift that was supplementing the inmate movement and control positions for monitoring and supervising the inmate activity in the exercise yard is redeployed to perform a medical escort.

17. Security activities shall not be reduced or eliminated in order to redeploy Correctional Officers to perform other security activities that may have an impact on the normal operational routine of the institution without the approval of the Warden. An example would be suspending inmate activity in the exercise yard to redeploy Correctional Officers to perform other security activities.

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

18. In emergency situations, Correctional Officers may be redeployed to another security activity to assist in isolating, containing, controlling and resolving the incident. This may include response capacity, searching, escorting and other security related duties as determined by the Correctional Manager - Operations Desk in accordance with the Institutional Contingency Plan.

19. Redeployment of Correctional Officers during emergencies may include but is not limited to the following security activities: Unit Officers, Visits and Correspondence, Admission and Discharge - Urinalysis, External Escorts, Security Maintenance Officer and Detector Dog Handler positions.

Original signed by:

Marc-Arthur Hyppolite
Senior Deputy Commissioner

Annex A - MINIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTIONS

In accordance with CD 004 and based on the normal operational routine of the institution, the security posts / security activities below are not subject to Operational Adjustment. The remaining security posts / security activities are subject to Operational Adjustment.

• Correctional Manager - Operations Desk
• Main Entrance / Communications Office

Annex B - MEDIUM SECURITY INSTITUTIONS

In accordance with CD 004 and based on the normal operational routine of the institution, the security posts / security activities below are not subject to Operational Adjustment. The remaining security posts / security activities are subject to Operational Adjustment.

• Correctional Manager - Operations Desk
• Main Communications and Control Post (MCCP)
• Mobile Patrol
• Principal Entrance
• Unit Officers
• Segregation Sector Coordinator and Unit Supervision
• Inmate Movement Control and Supervision - Multi-Function (on the morning shift)

Annex C - MAXIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTIONS

In accordance with CD 004 and based on the normal operational routine of the institution, the security posts / security activities below are not subject to Operational Adjustment. The remaining security posts / security activities are subject to Operational Adjustment.

• Correctional Manager - Operations Desk
• Main Communications and Control Post (MCCP)
• Mobile Patrol
• Principal Entrance
• Unit Officers
• Segregation Sector Coordinator and Unit Supervision
• Inmate Movement Control and Supervision (Secure Control)
• Inmate Movement Control and Supervision (Observation Galleries)
• Inmate Movement Control and Supervision (Yard Tower)
• Multi-Function (on the morning shift)

Annex D - WOMEN'S INSTITUTIONS

In accordance with CD 004 and based on the normal operational routine of the institution, the security posts / security activities below are not subject to Operational Adjustment. The remaining security posts / security activities are subject to Operational Adjustment.

• Correctional Manager - Operations Desk
• Main Communications and Control Post (MCCP)
• Minimum and Medium Housing Units
• Structured Living Environment
• Secure Unit - Maximum and Segregation

Annex E - HEALING LODGES

In accordance with CD 004 and based on the normal operational routine of the institution, the security posts / security activities below are not subject to Operational Adjustment. The remaining security posts / security activities are subject to Operational Adjustment.

• Correctional Manager - Operations Desk
• Inmate Movement Control and Supervision (Multi-Function -Communications Desk and Patrolling)