Commissioner's Directive

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Policy Bulletin 311

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POLICY OBJECTIVE

1. To contribute to the reintegration of offenders, and in turn the safety of the public, staff, contractors and offenders by establishing standards and requirements for the safe operation of Community Correctional Centres (CCCs).

AUTHORITIES

2. Corrections and Conditional Release Act

Corrections and Conditional Release Regulations

CROSS-REFERENCES

3. CD 081 - Offender Complaints and Grievances

CD 234 - Claims Against the Crown and the Offender Accident Compensation Program

CD 259 - Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke

CD 566-1 - Control of Entry to and Exit from Institutions

CD 566-7 - Searching of Inmates

CD 566-9 - Searching of Cells, Vehicles and other Areas of the Institution

CD 566-11 - Urinalysis Testing in the Community

CD 566-12 - Personal Property of Inmates

CD 568-5 - Management of Seized Items

CD 600 - Management of Emergencies

CD 650 - Technical Security Systems

CD 715 - Community Supervision Framework

CD 715-1 - Community Transition and Post- Release Assessment

CD 715-2 - Community Supervision and Monitoring

CD 715-3 - Post-Release Decision Process

CD 719 - Long Term Supervision Orders

CD 800 - Health Services

CD 870 - Maintenance Allowance for Offenders

GL 714-1 - Consultation Guidelines for the Establishment and/or Relocation of Community Correctional Centres

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

4. The Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs (ACCOP), will authorize Guidelines 714-1 – Consultation Guidelines for the Establishment and/or Relocation of Community Correctional Centres.

5. The District Director will ensure that CCCs are in compliance with all applicable federal, territorial, provincial, municipal and local legislation and regulations.

6. The District Director will ensure that guidelines are established for curfews, leave privileges and access to the community, in accordance with National Parole Board (NPB) policies, as applicable. Any NPB special conditions regarding curfews or access to the community will take precedence over the guidelines.

7. The District Director will ensure that written procedures are established for alerting staff and contractors to offenders identified in paragraph 22 so that appropriate actions and interventions can be taken without delay.

8. The District Director will ensure that staff and contractors are made aware of offender activities through regular staff meetings and regular communication between staff members and contractors at shift changes.

9. The District Director will ensure that a Search Plan is established to meet the specific needs of the facility in accordance with CD 566-7 – Searching of Inmates.

10. The District Director will ensure that reasonable procedures are in place for the management of seized items in accordance with CD 568-5 – Management of Seized Items and for the control of items critical to the safety and security of the CCC.

11. The District Director will ensure that the CCC has written contingency plans (including up-to-date floor plans) for dealing with fire, medical emergencies (including an influenza pandemic), security incidents, and natural disasters, and personnel will be trained accordingly.

12. The District Director will ensure that a strategy is in place to accommodate the practice of Aboriginal spirituality and culture and other spiritual practices if required.

13. CCC staff and contractors will ensure that they are familiar with the law, policies and standards applicable to the operation of the CCC.

POLICY

14. CCCs are federally operated community-based residential facilities that provide a structured living environment with 24-hour supervision, programs, and interventions for the purpose of safely reintegrating the offender 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.

15. In certain circumstances where specialized resources are in place, CCCs may accommodate offenders with special needs (including those with      mental health problems, physical or cognitive disabilities) as well as older offenders (including those with chronic illnesses and palliative care needs). CCCs facilitate the delivery of specialized programs and services to a mixed offender population.

INTAKE PROCEDURES AND CCC RULES

16. Offenders in CCCs will be provided with a copy of the CCC's rules and regulations at admission. Form CSC/SCC 1331 – Initial Interview Checklist signed by the offender will be maintained on his or her file.

17. The intake procedures will address the following areas at a minimum:

1. supervision requirements (as per case management policies);
2. procedures to follow to obtain dental or medical care (including prescriptions);
3. determination of need for daily incidental allowance and the amount that will be provided (if any), in accordance with CD 870 – Maintenance Allowance for Offenders
4. policies regarding room searches, exposure to second hand smoke, cellular telephones, etc.;
5. disciplinary actions or sanctions that may be taken for failing to adhere to the rules and regulations of the CCC;
6. sign-in and sign-out procedures, curfews and leave privileges (including overnight and weekend passes);
7. personal effects policy, including handling of funds and property left at the CCC, as well as storage of personal possessions;
8. guidelines regarding visitors;
9. evacuation and emergency procedures;
10. CD 081 – Offender Complaints and Grievances and related procedures (these will be posted in the CCC); and
11. any additional CCC rules and regulations specific to the individual facility.

CURFEWS AND LEAVE PRIVILEGES

18. Restrictions on access to the community will be determined based on the policies and conditions imposed by the NPB in addition to the offender’s behaviour and public safety concerns as evaluated by CCC staff.

DUTY LOG

19. It is mandatory that the CCC duty log be maintained up to date. This log is also a formal record for documenting the following:

1. activities;
2. incidents;
3. offender movement; and
4. offender behaviour.

20. CCC staff and contractors coming on shift who have a need to know will be briefed verbally or in writing using the duty log before assuming responsibility for the shift.

21. CCC staff and contractors will be alerted to the following offenders to ensure that any required interventions can be made immediately:

1. offenders who have been convicted of an offence or offences causing death or serious harm to others;
2. offenders who are assessed as having a high potential for violent or suicidal behaviour;
3. offenders whose medical or psychiatric history indicates a need for special attention;
4. offenders whose conviction has attracted considerable public attention; and
5. any Schedule 1 offender.

ACCESS TO MEDICATION

22. Upon admission, the offender will be asked to identify any allergies or medical conditions that may require the urgent intervention of staff or contractors and/or emergency medical personnel.

23. Offenders are responsible for carrying on their person any medication that requires immediate and/or urgent use (e.g. nitroglycerine tablets or spray, inhalers for asthma, Epipens, etc.).

24. Methadone shall not be stored in a CCC. Offenders residing in a CCC must attend the pharmacy or methadone clinic to take methadone. Parole Officers must ensure that the community methadone prescriber is aware that methadone carries cannot be stored at the CCC.

25. All other medication will be stored in a secure area (either in a central location or in the offender's locked space). The location will be determined by the appropriate CCC staff on a case by case basis. Offenders are responsible for self-administering their own medication.

26. An individual medication log is required in those CCCs where health care staff are responsible for the administration of medication.

27. Offenders leaving the CCC on overnight leave privileges are responsible for requesting and taking with them the amount of medication required for the duration of the absence. Staff will remind offenders who may need assistance.

HEALTH CARE

28. The provision of health care to offenders residing in CCCs will be in accordance with CSC policies on health services and where applicable, provincial health care plans.

PERSONAL EFFECTS

29. Upon admission to the CCC, offenders will be informed verbally and in writing of procedures regarding personal property, the allowable amount of personal effects and procedures related to the storage, disposal and shipment to the next of kin or community contact after 30 days should the offender abscond.

30. Offenders will be advised that they are responsible for effects they have in their possession while residing at the facility. CSC is only responsible for those effects stored by the CCC.

31. Offenders will be advised that CSC is not responsible for any effects lost or stolen that are kept in an offender’s room.

32. Offenders will be expected to store those effects that exceed the allowable limit and any other personal property outside of the CCC.

33. Offenders will be provided with an individualized locked storage space to securely store their effects. For security reasons, staff must have access to these storage spaces.

34. Property for storage is restricted to 0.085 cubic meter. Items that require additional space are left to the discretion of the appropriate CCC staff.

35. Effects stored by the CCC are to be kept in a secure locked room or secure storage units and will be recorded and tagged while stored.

36. Items removed from storage are recorded as removed, and are not permitted to be returned to storage, unless it is a result of a new release or cancellation of suspension, or a seasonal item (e.g. bicycle).

37. When an offender's release is suspended, normally two approved staff members or contractors will remove and catalogue all effects using form CSC/SCC 0872 – Inmate Personal Property (Cell Property Removal), including those effects held in storage on behalf of the offender.

38. CCC staff and contractors will ensure that the effects recorded on form CSC/SCC 0872 – Inmate Personal Property (Cell Property Removal) [or other appropriate form used by the CCC for this purpose] are packed and either transported to the offender or next of kin in a safe and secure manner. If required, arrangements can be made to have next of kin retrieve the offender's effects at the CCC. Proof of identity as well as a signature from next of kin is required upon receipt of all effects.

39. Following the suspension of an offender’s release or walkaway from the CCC, any electronic equipment such as televisions, stereos, compact disc players, radios or cellular telephones, etc. will be checked when removed from the offender’s room to determine their general working condition. The staff member or contractor will record the status of the electronic equipment on form CSC/SCC 0872 – Inmate Personal Property (Cell Property Removal) [or other appropriate form used by the CCC for this purpose].

40. CCC staff and contractors are responsible for items recorded on form CSC/SCC 0872 – Inmate Personal Property (Cell Property Removal) [or other appropriate form used by the CCC for this purpose]. Any loss or damage to the effects can be claimed by the offender in accordance with CD 234 – Claims Against the Crown and the Offender Accident Compensation Program.

41. In the event that there is no known next of kin or community contact, the offender’s personal property is disposed of in accordance with section 85 of the CCRR.

42. Offenders in CCC are permitted to use cellular telephones for communication purposes, at the discretion of the appropriate CCC staff.

CONTROL OF ENTRY AND EXIT FROM CCCS

43. The CCC procedures will include:

1. a process of authorization for, and recording of, entry and exit at scheduled times;
2. procedures to monitor and control the movement of persons (offenders and visitors) in the CCC.

44. CCC offenders’ approved visitors who have not reached the age of majority in the province in which the CCC is located will be identified and signed in by the child’s parent or legal guardian with photo ID. CSC reserves the right to refuse access to the CCC.

COUNTS

45. Staff and contractors will conduct, at a minimum, two counts during each 24-hour period, one of which shall be at the commencement of the midnight shift. All counts will ensure the presence of a live breathing body. All counts will be documented on the Resident Count Sheet (form CSC/SCC 1296). In exceptional circumstances where it may be necessary to accommodate a woman offender in a CCC, female staff must be available to complete counts during the night shifts.

46. The CCC Sign In / Sign Out Sheet (form CSC/SCC 1297) will be used to record each resident's departures and arrivals. A system will be in place to safeguard the privacy of offender information.

47. Consistent with the applicable Standing Order, staff and contractors on the day and evening shifts will verify that the offenders in the facility are accounted for and alive. Such verifications will be recorded in the duty log.

SEARCHES

48. The CCC Search Plan will include, but not be limited to, all the elements outlined in Annex A of CD 566-7 – Searching of Inmates, the requirements of the CCRAand CCRR as well as all routine circumstances for searches specific to the facility.

49. CCCs are not required to have a section in their Search Plan concerning the routine searching of offenders.

SEARCHING ROOMS AND OTHER AREAS OF THE CCC

50. All routine searches of rooms and other areas of the CCC will be specified in the Search Plan. The CCC Search Plan will include, as a minimum, a thorough visual inspection of all offender-accessible areas within a 30-day period. A thorough visual inspection is defined as a routine inspection to visually detect contraband or unauthorized items which may jeopardize the safety or security of the facility. This does not normally include opening drawers, closets, etc. but may include inspecting under beds or behind dressers.

51. Routine searches will normally be conducted in the presence of another staff member or contractor.

MANAGEMENT OF SEIZED ITEMS

52. The CCC will have procedures in place for the seizure and control of contraband and unauthorized items. The CCC will designate a seizure control area for seized items.

URINALYSIS TESTING

53. Urinalysis testing in CCCs will be conducted in accordance with CD 566-11 – Urinalysis Testing in the Community.

PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OF EMERGENCIES

54. The District Director will ensure that one CCC staff member will be identified as responsible for the coordination of all activities related to contingency planning in order to ensure an appropriate emergency response at each level.

55. A written protocol will be established for in-house arrests.

56. Reasonable procedures will be established for securing a crime scene until the arrival of the police.

57. The CCC contingency plans will be discussed regularly at staff meetings.

58. CCC staff and contractors who have a need to know will have access to the contingency plans.

59. The CCC contingency plans will be reviewed on an annual basis.

60. The CCC must have a reliable sign-in and sign-out system that ensures the means to verify the location and safety of CCC staff and contractors.

61. Staff and contractors will wear a personal portable alarm in the CCC.

62. The District Director will ensure liaison with local emergency personnel to enhance communication and facilitate their involvement in contingency planning.

63. Applicable licenses or certificates will be posted in a public area. The CCC’s premises and equipment will conform to applicable zoning, health, safety, building and fire codes and regulations.

64. There will be a first aid kit available for each shift with an inventory of medical contents approved by the St. John Ambulance or the Canadian Red Cross or equivalent. These contents will be inspected monthly.

65. There will be at least one staff member or contractor on each shift with valid first aid and CPR certification.

66. Offenders residing at a CCC will have access to a telephone. Emergency numbers will be posted next to all telephones in the facility.

TECHNICAL SECURITY SYSTEMS

67. Technical security systems, such as alarms, closed circuit video equipment and other equipment will be subject to a regular maintenance and inspection program.

COMMUNITY LIAISON AND OUTREACH

68. The CCC will have an active approach in the community, and if applicable, will liaise with local community partners including police, Citizen Advisory Committees, advocacy groups, victims groups, citizens and other persons or agencies involved in the criminal justice system.

69. Where possible, offenders residing at the CCC will be encouraged and provided opportunities to participate in activities that involve giving back to the community.

70. Volunteers and volunteer activities will complement the resources made available to the offenders by the CCC. The CCC will effectively encourage volunteer involvement to assist and interact with individual offenders as appropriate.

Commissioner,

Original signed by:
Don Head