Commissioner's Directive

Date:
2012-06-13

Number:
566-6

Security Escorts

Issued under the authority of the Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada

Policy Bulletin 351

Policy Objective

1. To establish procedures for security escorts of inmates to assist in the protection of society.

Authorities

2. Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA), sections 3, 3.1, 4, 5, 17, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 97 and 98

Corrections and Conditional Release Regulations (CCRR), sections 47, 48, 49 and 50

Application

3. This Commissioner's Directive applies to staff involved in security escorts at all security levels of institutions excluding Community Correctional Centres.

Responsibilities

4. The Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Institutional Operations, will ensure only side arms are used for escorts with the exception of:

  1. ground support for inter-regional flights; and/or
  2. high risk transfers involving the Emergency Response Team.

5. The Institutional Head will:

  1. ensure a Threat Risk Assessment (TRA) for security escorts is completed for:
    1. any maximum security inmate when the Institutional Head has information which could affect the conditions of the escort,
    2. any medium security inmate, and
    3. all inmates who are being transferred using air transportation;
  2. ensure escorting officers are thoroughly briefed on the inmate being escorted using the Escort Briefing Form (CSC/SCC 0753) and the TRA document available in the Offender Management System;
  3. ensure only firearms and equipment approved in the Security Equipment Manual and for which the escorting officer has been trained are issued;
  4. ensure when more than one escort team is involved in an escort for transfer purposes, the sending institution notifies the receiving institution of the completion of the TRA. In addition, a signed copy of the TRA must be provided by the escorting officers of the sending institution to the escort team of the receiving institution;
  5. determine the level of supervision and the security equipment which can be used during the escort, based on the results of the TRA;
  6. determine whether additional staff will be assigned to an escort in addition to those required as outlined under Procedures – General; and
  7. determine the appropriate dress of inmates under escort.

6. The Institutional Head of a male institution will ensure:

  1. all male medium security inmates who require an escort have a TRA completed 72 hours prior to the scheduled departure time to determine if an armed escort is necessary; and
  2. the escort is armed if the TRA for a male medium security inmate is not completed in the appropriate timeframe.

7. The Institutional Head of a women's institution will:

  1. ensure all maximum or medium security women inmates have a TRA completed 72 hours prior to a planned escort to determine the security and staffing requirements of the escort; and
  2. determine whether to arm an escort for all maximum or medium security women inmates.

8. The Deputy Warden will ensure Post Orders are established as per CD 004 – National Standards for the Deployment of Correctional Officers, Annex E.

9. The Correctional Manager will:

  1. complete a TRA for unplanned escorts; and
  2. brief escorts and explain the level and conditions of supervision required.

10. The officer in charge of the escort will ensure:

  1. he/she has possession of all documentation related to the inmate and the escort, including offender files in transit for intra and inter-regional transfers. The officer in charge is responsible for the files and is to ensure that they arrive at the receiving institution;
  2. the escort vehicle has been inspected and searched by a Correctional Officer;
  3. all restraint equipment is in working order before going on escort duties as per CD 567-3 – Use of Restraint Equipment for Security Purposes;
  4. the inmate is searched as per CD 566-7 – Searching of Inmates;
  5. the inmate(s) remain in direct sight and sound of the escorting officers. Any exception must be documented in the decision record;
  6. restraint equipment is checked by security staff on a regular basis during the escort, to ensure it is not too tight or has not been tampered with;
  7. when an inmate wearing restraint equipment is out of direct observation of the security escort, the equipment is checked again as soon as the inmate is again within direct observation; and
  8. the escort is terminated and the inmate returned to the institution at any time for safety and security reasons providing that doing so would not jeopardize the life or well-being of the inmate.

Procedures

General

11. For ground security escorts of maximum and medium security inmates:

  1. two officers, both armed, shall be deployed for all armed security escorts for maximum and medium security inmates;
  2. escorting officers will dress in uniform if armed;
  3. the minimum staff-to-inmate ratio will usually be two officers for the first inmate;
  4. the ratio for additional inmates is one-to-one;
  5. the ratio of escort officers to inmate(s) will not normally be exceeded unless authorized by the Institutional Head;
  6. at least one escorting officer will be of the same sex as the inmate being escorted;
  7. one of the escorting officers may be the driver of the escort vehicle; and
  8. staff members will not use privately owned motor vehicles for security escorts, except as authorized by the Institutional Head or in emergencies when no other means of transportation is available.

12. In case of a medical emergency, if an additional vehicle is required and approved by the Institutional Head, the driver is not to contravene any traffic laws in an effort to follow the ambulance.

13. When escorting a group of inmates with different security classifications, the TRA will determine whether the escorting officers will be armed.

14. The above-noted staff-to-inmate ratio does not apply to intra or inter-regional transfers using vehicles equipped with inserts which separate inmates or when in an aircraft.

15. Armed escorts for women inmates may be facilitated by CSC Correctional Officers or other peace officers. As well, the escort team must include at least one female CSC officer.

16. There will be no deviation from the instructions received from the Institutional Head on the use of the restraint equipment except in emergencies.

17. Any condition or emergency that requires deviation from the instructions provided must be reported as soon as possible to the Institutional Head or the officer in charge of the institution.

18. When inmates use washroom facilities while under escort:

  1. the facilities will be thoroughly searched by an escorting officer before allowing the inmate to enter;
  2. only one inmate at a time will be permitted to use the washroom;
  3. at least one restraining device will be kept on the inmate; and
  4. an escorting officer of the same sex as the inmate will remain in constant sight of the inmate.

Intra or Inter-Regional Transfers

19. If the TRA refers to the requirement for armed support, only the escorts responsible for the land portion will be armed in accordance with security procedures.

20. No escorts traveling on any aircraft will have a firearm or an inflammatory/chemical agent.

21. Two ground support officers from the closest institution will normally provide armed support to the plane.

22. The two officers providing ground support will arrive 30 minutes prior to the flight's arrival and remain on site 30 minutes after the plane's departure.

Medical Escorts

23. Where possible, a written agreement or protocol will be developed with the medical facility authorities as to their expectations with respect to procedures for maintaining and/or the removal of security equipment as well as the physical location of escort staff during medical procedures (e.g. operations).

24. The following paragraphs apply to medical escorts unless otherwise addressed in a written agreement or protocol with the medical facility.

25. The escorting officer will ensure the examination room and surrounding areas are secure.

26. When one of the escorting officers must leave the immediate area and the inmate cannot be maintained within sight and sound of both officers, the inmate may be restrained to a secure object such as a hospital bed.

27. When an inmate is admitted to a hospital, the officer in charge of the escort will inform the Chief of Hospital Security and Head Nurse on the floor of:

  1. the name of the inmate;
  2. the number of escorts on duty while the inmate is a patient; and
  3. all restraint equipment required.

28. When an inmate is taken to an operating room, the escorting officer will:

  1. remove restraint equipment, if necessary, for the inmate to be placed on the stretcher and reapply it prior to transportation to the operating room;
  2. accompany the inmate to the operating room;
  3. remove the restraint equipment, if necessary, only after the inmate has been put under general anaesthesia; and
  4. normally exit the operating room and wait in a designated area until the operation is completed.

29. If, in the opinion of the attending physician, the use of restraint equipment poses a danger to the inmate while recovering from a general anaesthesia, the escorting officer will remove the restraints and will remain in the recovery room with the inmate.

30. If however, in the opinion of the officer in charge of the escort, the removal of restraint equipment would pose a risk to safety and security of any sort, he/she will advise the physician of such and contact the Institutional Head or designate for guidance before removing any restraints.

Pregnant Inmates

31. Restraints should only be used as a last resort with pregnant inmates. If restraint equipment is used on a pregnant inmate, extreme caution will be exercised to ensure that both the woman and fetus are protected from injury (e.g. supported by staff on each side while walking).

32. Pregnant women will not be restrained during labour and delivery.

33. When pregnant women are being transported, body belts, if required, must be applied in such a way so as to ensure that no pressure is exerted on the woman's stomach or torso.

Medical Air Transport

34. When a medical escort involves the use of an air ambulance, the use of an armed escort must meet the requirements of the Canadian Aviation Security Regulations, 2012 (Part 3 and Part 8) and the air ambulance service provider's policies respecting weapons and the number of persons on board the flight.

Security Equipment

35. For maximum security inmates, at least two types of restraint equipment will be used.

36. When escorting a group of inmates with different security classifications, the TRA will determine the security equipment selected according to the highest security classification.

Transportation by Air

37. CSC will ensure that aircraft operators are informed in advance when a person in their custody is to be transported on their aircraft.

38. Normally, escorts of inmates over long distances will be conducted on chartered aircrafts.

39. When necessary, commercial airlines may be used to escort inmates.

40. Escorts of inmates on regularly scheduled flights of commercial airlines will conform to instructions issued by Transport Canada under the Canadian Aviation Security Regulations, 2012 (Part 3 and Part 8).

Court Appearance

41. Upon receiving a court appearance notice for an inmate requiring a CSC escort:

  1. if the inmate is deemed a security risk, the officer in charge will advise the Clerk of the court that restraint equipment will remain on the inmate during court proceedings unless ordered differently by the court; and
  2. the escorting officers will have in their possession a temporary absence permit, warrant or court order while escorting an inmate to court.

Enquiries

42. Strategic Policy Division
National Headquarters
Email: Gen-NHQPolicy-Politi@CSC-SCC.GC.CA

Commissioner,

Original signed by
Don Head

Annex A ; Cross-References and Definitions

Cross-references

Definitions

Security escort:
an escort where an assessment of risk determines what specific precautions and control mechanisms are required to ensure continued safe custody of the inmate.
Sight and sound:
normally means in close enough proximity to see the inmate and hear his/her communications, except for privileged communications between an inmate and a lawyer or a medical practitioner in which constant sight is required.
Threat Risk Assessment:
an evaluation of factors that could pose a danger to the management of an offender, the safety of others, or security of an operational unit in particular circumstances.