Commissioner's Directive

Date:
2012-12-01

Number:
705-4

ORIENTATION

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

Policy Objective

1. To establish standards for an orientation process for offenders admitted/transferred to a penitentiary.

Authorites

2. Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA), sections 3, 3.1, 4, 54-57.

Application

3. This Commissioner’s Directive applies to staff responsible for providing orientation to offenders admitted/transferred to a penitentiary, Healing Lodge, or Community Correctional Centre (CCC).

Responsibilities and Procedures

4. The Institutional Head/District Director will:

  1. establish an orientation process to share with offenders the necessary information to assist them in making the most productive use of their time while in a Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) facility;
  2. ensure that the local orientation process is completed within two weeks of an offender’s arrival; and
  3. ensure that upon placement or transfer, the offender is provided with information regarding rules and regulations specific to the facility.

5. Each offender is expected to participate in the orientation process.

6. Staff responsible for orientation will ensure that all offenders are advised of the expected behaviour and potential consequences while in a CSC facility, specifically that they:

  1. conduct themselves in a manner that demonstrates respect for other persons and property;
  2. obey penitentiary rules, regulations, lawful orders, and comply with the requirement to submit to urinalysis in accordance with section 54 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, and/or supervision requirements;
  3. participate in programs, activities and/or interventions identified in their Correctional Plans; and
  4. meet any court-ordered obligations, including restitution to victims or child support.

7. Staff responsible for orientation in all institutions, except CCCs, will also ensure that the process includes information on:

  1. health care services, including psychological services and mental health services;
  2. suicide awareness and prevention workshop;
  3. inmate rights and responsibilities;
  4. the Mission Statement of CSC;
  5. adaptation to the penitentiary environment;
  6. availability of educational and vocational counselling;
  7. availability of spiritual and ethno-cultural services;
  8. role of Elders/Spiritual Advisors, Aboriginal Liaison Officers, Aboriginal Community Development Officers, Pathways Units (if relevant) and culturally-relevant programs and services within the Continuum of Care, excluding CCC)s;
  9. program opportunities, visits and correspondence, work placement and finance;
  10. the Mother-Child Program where applicable;
  11. security levels of institutions, procedures, operations, and fire safety;
  12. case management process, including policy and procedures on temporary absences, work releases, sections 81 and 84 of the (CCRA), conditional release, and function of the Parole Board of Canada (including information regarding Elder/cultural assisted hearings and/or community assisted hearings);
  13. access to information procedures;
  14. offender grievance process (CD 081 – Offender Complaints and Grievances);
  15. function of the Office of the Correctional Investigator;
  16. Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms;
  17. Corrections and Conditional Release Act; and
  18. institutional Inmate Handbook.

8. Staff responsible for orientation in a CCC) will, upon admission, also provide the offender with information on:

  1. health care services, including psychological services and mental health services;
  2. suicide awareness and prevention;
  3. offender rights and responsibilities;
  4. the Mission Statement of CSC;
  5. adaptation to the environment;
  6. availability of educational and vocational counselling;
  7. availability of spiritual and ethno-cultural services;
  8. program opportunities, visits and correspondence, and finance;
  9. procedures, operations, and fire safety;
  10. conditional release and function of the Parole Board of Canada (including providing information regarding reviews and/or Elder/Cultural/Community assisted hearings);
  11. access to information procedures;
  12. offender grievance process (CD 081 – Offender Complaints and Grievances);
  13. function of the Office of the Correctional Investigator;
  14. Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms;
  15. Corrections and Conditional Release Act; and
  16. handbook for CCC offenders.

Enquires

9. Strategic Policy Division
National Headquarters
Email:Gen-NHQPolicy-Politi@csc-scc.gc.ca

Commissioner,

Original signed by
Don Head

Annex A

Cross References

National Correctional Program Referral Guidelines