Commissioner's Directive

• Policy Objective
• Authorities
• Application
• Responsibilities
• Procedures
  • Security Levels
  • Security Requirements
  • Minimum Security Institutions - Male Inmates
    • Security
    • Behavioural Norms
  • Healing Lodges/Healing Villages - Male Inmates
    • Security
    • Behavioural Norms
  • Medium Security Institutions - Male Inmates
    • Security
    • Behavioural Norms
  • Maximum Security Institutions - Male Inmates
    • Security
    • Behavioural Norms
  • Special Handling Unit
    • Security
    • Behavioural Norms
  • Multi-Level Institutions
    • Behavioural Norms
  • Women Offender Institutions
    • Security
  • Minimum and Medium Security - Women Offenders
    • Security - Living Units
    • Behavioural Norms
  • Maximum Security - Women Offenders
    • Security - Secure Unit
    • Behavioural Norms
  • Healing Lodges/Healing Villages - Women Offenders
    • Security
    • Behavioural Norms
  • Regional Treatment Centres
    • Security
    • Behavioural Norms
  • Community Correctional Centres
    • Security
    • Behavioural Norms
• Enquiries
• Annex A: Cross-References and Definitions
• Annex B: Security Classification of the Correctional Service of Canada's Institutions

Policy Objective

1. To ensure the appropriate classification of the Correctional Service of Canada's (CSC) institutions and create an environment at all security levels that fosters:

1. constructive interaction between staff and offenders and among offenders;
2. the delivery of programs and activities designed to meet the needs of offenders; and
3. the development and maintenance of responsible behaviour by offenders.

Authorities

2. Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA), sections 2, 3, 3.1, 4, 15.1, 28, 30,
and 96(z.6)

Application

3. This Commissioner's Directive applies to all staff in federal institutions.

Responsibilities

4. The Commissioner will:

1. establish the classification of minimum, medium, maximum, and multi-level security institutions;
2. establish behavioural norms and security requirements for each security level; and
3. designate an institution as multi-level with distinctions between programming and privileges as extended to the different security levels.

5. The Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs, will maintain the list of CSC's institutions by security level. (Refer to Annex B - Security Classification of the Correctional Service of Canada's Institutions.)

6. The Regional Deputy Commissioner will review annually the security levels of the institutions to ensure that they are consistent with the regional inmate population profile.

7. The Institutional Heads of minimum security institutions and healing lodges/healing villages will ensure that the perimeters of the institutions are clearly indicated and communicated to all staff and offenders.

8. Offenders are expected to:

1. conduct themselves in a manner that demonstrates respect for other persons and property;
2. obey penitentiary rules and regulations; and
3. participate in programs, activities and/or interventions identified in their Correctional Plans.

Procedures

Security Levels

9. The classification of CSC's institutions will conform to the following security levels: multi-level, maximum, medium and minimum (refer to Annex B).

Security Requirements

10. Dynamic and static measures will reflect the degree of control required to maintain the security and stability of the institution and to protect the public, staff and offenders.

Minimum Security Institutions - Male Inmates

Security

11. The perimeter of a minimum security institution will be defined but not normally directly controlled. Firearms will not be retained in the institution.

Behavioural Norms

12. Minimum security inmates will:

1. interact effectively and responsibly with minimal supervision; and
2. demonstrate a high level of motivation towards self-improvement by actively participating in their Correctional Plans.

Healing Lodges/Healing Villages - Male Inmates

Security

13. The perimeters of healing lodges/healing villages will be defined by a boundary fence, signage or natural demarcations, but will not be directly controlled. Inmate movement and association will be regulated primarily through dynamic security involving frequent monitoring and a high degree of interaction between employees and offenders. Firearms will not be utilized for perimeter security, nor retained in healing lodges/healing villages. However, the Institutional Head may permit the use of firearms during emergency situations.

Behavioural Norms

14. In addition to any other provisions regarding behavioural norms for inmates, inmates within healing lodges/healing villages will demonstrate respect for Aboriginal traditional healing concepts and commitment to participating in Aboriginal programs and interventions that are consistent with their Correctional Plans.

Medium Security Institutions - Male Inmates

Security

15. The perimeter of a medium security institution will be well defined, secure and controlled. Inmate movement and association will be regulated and supervised. Although firearms will be retained in the institution, they will not normally be deployed inside the perimeter.

Behavioural Norms

16. Medium security inmates will:

1. interact effectively and responsibly while subject to regular and often direct supervision; and
2. demonstrate an interest and actively participate in their Correctional Plans.

17. To access a medium security institution offering a responsibility-based, small-group living environment, inmates will demonstrate:

1. a capacity to manage individual responsibility for behaviour with minimal staff intervention; and
2. a high level of motivation to participate in their Correctional Plans.

Maximum Security Institutions - Male Inmates

Security

18. The perimeter of a maximum security institution will be well defined, secure and controlled. Inmate movement and association will be strictly regulated and directly supervised. Firearms will be retained in the institution and may be deployed inside the perimeter.

Behavioural Norms

19. Maximum security inmates will:

1. interact effectively and responsibly, while subject to constant and direct supervision; and
2. demonstrate at least a minimum interest in participating in their Correctional Plans.

Special Handling Unit

Security

20. The perimeter of the Special Handling Unit will be well defined, secure and strictly controlled. Inmate movement and association will be strictly regulated and rigidly controlled. Firearms will be retained in the institution and may be deployed inside the perimeter.

Behavioural Norms

21. Inmates in the Special Handling Unit will:

1. interact in a non-violent and non-threatening manner while subject to enhanced supervision; and
2. participate in correctional planning intended to modify their attitudes and stabilize their behaviours so they can function without serious incident in a maximum security institution.

Multi-Level Institutions

Behavioural Norms

22. The behavioural norms for inmates in a multi-level institution will reflect their security classification and/or the classification of the unit in which they are incarcerated and be in compliance with their Correctional Plans.

Women Offender Institutions

Security

23. The perimeter of women's institutions will be well defined, secure and controlled. Dynamic security will be emphasized. Firearms will not be utilized for perimeter security, nor retained in women's institutions. However, the Institutional Head may permit the use of firearms during emergency situations.

Minimum and Medium Security - Women Offenders

24. Inmates at the minimum or medium security level will be incarcerated in a living unit.

Security - Living Units

25. Inmate movement and association will be regulated primarily through dynamic security involving regular monitoring and a high degree of interaction between staff and inmates.

Behavioural Norms

26. Minimum security inmates will:

1. interact effectively and responsibly while subject to regular supervision; and
2. demonstrate a high level of motivation towards self-improvement by actively participating in their Correctional Plans.

27. Medium security inmates will:

1. interact effectively and responsibly while subject to regular supervision; and
2. demonstrate an interest and actively participate in their Correctional Plans.

Maximum Security - Women Offenders

Security - Secure Unit

28. There are enhanced static security measures in the secure unit, including closed pods and control post, cell accommodation and a secure yard. Movement and association within the unit are regulated and supervised.

29. An inmate classified at the maximum security level who is granted access to other areas of the institution will be under constant staff supervision.

Behavioural Norms

30. Maximum security inmates will:

1. interact effectively and responsibly, while subject to constant and direct supervision; and
2. demonstrate at least a minimum interest in participating in their Correctional Plans.

Healing Lodges/Healing Villages - Women Offenders

Security

31. The perimeter of a healing lodge/healing village will be defined but not directly controlled. The healing lodge/healing village accommodates women offenders classified at the minimum and/or medium security level.

Behavioural Norms

32. In addition to any other provisions regarding behavioural norms for inmates, inmates within healing lodges/healing villages will demonstrate respect for Aboriginal traditional healing concepts, and commitment to participating in Aboriginal programs and interventions that are consistent with their Correctional Plans.

Regional Treatment Centres

Security

33. When a Regional Treatment Centre is located within the perimeter of another institution, the security measures will be dependent on the security classification of the institution and on the location of the Centre within the institution.

34. In the case of a standalone Treatment Centre, the perimeter will be well defined, secure and controlled. Firearms will be retained in the Treatment Centre and will be utilized for perimeter security. However, they will only be deployed inside the Treatment Centre during emergency situations with the permission of the Executive Director.

Behavioural Norms

35. The behavioural norms for inmates at Regional Treatment Centres will reflect their security level and be in compliance with their treatment plan and Correctional Plans.

Community Correctional Centres

Security

36. Although Community Correctional Centres (CCC) are classified as minimum security institutions, due to their role in accommodating offenders on conditional release, they are not required to conform to all minimum security standards (CD 714 - Community Correctional Centre Standards).

Behavioural Norms

37. The behavioural expectations for offenders residing in a CCC will be consistent with those expected of other offenders who are subject to supervision in the community and be in compliance with their Correctional Plans.

Enquiries

38. 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

• CD 702 - Aboriginal Offenders
• CD 705-6 - Correctional Planning and Criminal Profile
• CD 705-7 - Security Classification and Penitentiary Placement
• CD 708 - Special Handling Unit
• CD 710-1 - Progress Against the Correctional Plan
• CD 710-2 - Transfer of Inmates
• CD 710-6 - Review of Inmate Security Classification
• CD 714 - Community Correctional Centre Standards
• CD 716 - Provincial Offenders Pre-Release Case Preparation
• CD 800 - Health Services

Definitions

Behavioural norms:

The expected behaviours of inmates at each security level. The degree to which individual behaviour compares to expectations indicates the need for intervention strategies.

Community Correctional Centre (CCC):

A federally operated community-based residential facility that provides a structured living environment with 24-hour supervision, programs, and interventions for the purpose of safely reintegrating offenders into the community. These facilities, which may also have an enhanced programming component, accommodate offenders under federal jurisdiction who have been released to the community on unescorted temporary absences, day parole, full parole, work releases, statutory release, as well as those subject to long-term supervision orders.

Healing lodge/Healing village:

A minimum or multi-level security facility operated by CSC in cooperation with an Aboriginal community. These facilities may or may not be located on First Nations' reserve land. Healing lodges may also be facilities run by the Aboriginal community under section 81 of the CCRA when approved by the Minister.

Living unit:

A house that accommodates minimum and medium security women (including the Structured Living Environment). Living units do not include cells or pods in the Secure Unit or the Segregation Unit.

Regional Treatment Centre:

A multi-level security institution that operates as a provincially recognized hospital and/or psychiatric hospital mandated to accommodate offenders unable to function in parent institutions due to a mental disorder, cognitive impairment, and/or physical disability typically associated with aging, or who require specialized assessments.

Secure Unit:

A unit that accommodates women classified as maximum security.

Special Handling Unit (SHU):

A facility that incarcerates male inmates who pose an ongoing danger to the public, staff and/or other inmates, and who cannot be safely managed at any other maximum security institution.

Women offender institution:

A multi-level institution containing clustered structures designed to address the needs of women offenders. Offenders classified at the minimum and medium security level are accommodated together in living units. Offenders classified at the maximum security level are accommodated in a separate, Secure Unit.

Annex B: Security Classification of the Correctional Service of Canada's Institutions

The names and security classifications of the CSC's institutions are listed below by region.