Policy Bulletin

Policy numbers and titles:

Commissioner's Directives

Why were the policies changed?

These Commissioner’s Directives (CDs) have been revised to reflect changes to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act ((CCRA) and other recently passed legislation, to comply with the recommendations of the Policy Review Task Force, and to incorporate information from Case Management Bulletins.

What has changed?

Several technical modifications have been made to the layout of the documents. Extensive editing was done to remove extraneous details, to improve clarity of the direction and to focus on staff responsibilities. Among other changes:

The Policy Objectives, Authorities and Responsibilities sections have all been updated. Responsibilities are outlined for the Regional Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Institutional Operations, District Director, Area Director, Parole Officer Supervisor, Director, Community Correctional Centre, Institutional Head, Assistant Warden, Interventions, Assistant Warden, Operations, Manager, Assessment and Interventions, Parole Officer, and Correctional Officer II/Primary Worker. As well, an Application section has been added.

The offender’s responsibility to participate in establishing and attaining the goals of his/her Correctional Plan has been added to the CDs to highlight his/her accountability within the reintegration process as per the Correctional Service of Canada Review Panel recommendation.

The policies reflect current management structure and case management practices.

The cross-references and definitions have been moved to Annex A of the CDs.

A new section entitled "Enquiries" has been added to provide staff with one point of contact as a reference for any policy-related questions.

CD 705 – Intake Assessment Process and Correctional Plan Framework

This CD was renamed adding "and Correctional Plan Framework" to reflect the importance of the Correctional Plan, as well as to set out the framework for the subsequent 705 CDs. Specific duties were removed from CD 705 and detailed in the applicable CDs. Higher level responsibilities in the series were moved to CD 705.

CD 705-1 – Preliminary Assessments and Post-Sentence Community Assessments

This CD was streamlined considerably as much of the information is contained in the Annexes. In the title of the Annexes on the Preliminary Assessment Report and Post-Sentence Community Assessment Report, "Content Guidelines" have been renamed "Report Outlines". This applies to all case management report outlines. A section regarding "Official Identification" was included in the Preliminary Assessment Report Outline in response to the Report on Plans and Priorities. In the Post-Sentence Community Assessment Report Outline, accountability, motivation, responsivity and engagement are assessed. In the Overall Assessment, the Parole Officer is expected to assess the nature and gravity of the offence and the degree of responsibility of the offender.

CD 705-2 – Information Collection

The Responsibilities section was strengthened assigning tasks to specific positions. The information collected aligns more closely with section 23 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.

CD 705-3 – Immediate Needs Identification and Admission Interviews

The name of the CD has been changed to reflect the importance of identifying immediate needs, and the corresponding Offender Management System (OMS) document. There is a requirement for staff responsible for the immediate needs identification to complete an interview with the inmate within 24 hours of his/her arrival at a new institution and prior to cell assignment. They are to document, in the Offender Management System (OMS), any immediate needs identified in an Immediate Needs Checklist – Suicide Risk (CSC/SCC 1433).

CD 705-4 – Orientation

The revisions include the importance of providing information on mental health services and suicide prevention/awareness during offender orientation.

CD 705-5 – Supplementary Intake Assessments

Changes include emphasizing the link between supplementary intake assessments and the Correctional Plan. Mental health screening and assessment is highlighted. Timeframes for referrals and supplementary intake assessments are standardized and detailed for each assessment. Intake psychological risk assessments are not normally required for dangerous offenders or long-term offenders. With the exception of offenders exhibiting mental health distress or those meeting the criteria for a specialized sex offender assessment, psychological risk assessment will not be completed for offenders who present as low risk and low need.

CD 705-6 – Correctional Planning and Criminal Profile

This CD reflects intake changes implemented with the release of OMS 1.06 and incorporates the direction outlined in the Case Management Bulletins dated January 30, 2009, September 16, 2009 and April 1, 2010.

The Dynamic Factor Identification and Analysis - Revised (DFIA-R) introduced in September 2009 by the Research Branch replaces the previous Annexes entitled "Dynamic Factor Analysis", "Dynamic Factor Indicators" and "Guidelines for Dynamic Factor Identification and Analysis at Women Offender Institutions". Additional information for the administration of the DFIA-R is included in the DFIA-R Handbook created by the Research Branch.

An emphasis is placed on offender accountability, motivation, responsivity and engagement and detailed in the Correctional Plan - Report Outline.

CD 705-7 – Security Classification and Penitentiary Placement

The policy objectives include the link between the security classification, the penitentiary placement and the Correctional Plan. The Responsibilities section clarifies who is the final decision maker for offender security level and penitentiary placement decisions. The section on who requires a psychological risk assessment at intake is addressed in CD 705-5 – Supplementary Intake Assessments. Key elements are incorporated into the Security Classification and Penitentiary Placement – Report Outline.

Procedures following the capture of an escaped or unlawfully at large offender are incorporated into the policy.

Notification procedures for high profile offenders are detailed in CD 701 – Information Sharing, incorporating the Case Management Bulletins dated August 27, 2010, March 25, 2009, and August 3rd, 2004.

CD 705-8 – Assessing Serious Harm

The determination of serious harm to the victim is identified in the policy as a critical component of risk assessment. The definition of persistent violence is moved into the procedures of CD 705-5 – Supplementary Intake Assessments.

How were they developed?

Following Executive Committee approval of the Policy Review Task Force recommendations, the Strategic Policy Division, in collaboration with the National Policy Review Team revised the policies. Consultation occurred with National Headquarters, Regional Headquarters and the Knowledge Network.

Accountabilities?

Accountabilities are detailed in the Commissioner's Directives.

Who will be affected by the policies?

Staff involved in the intake assessment, Correctional Plan process, offender security classification and penitentiary placement.

Expected cost?

None.

Other impacts?

None.

Contact:

• Director, Institutional Reintegration Operations
• 613-995-7954