Women Offender Programs and Issues

The Cross Gender Monitoring Project
3rd and Final Annual Report

The CROSS GENDER MONITORING PROJECT

CROSS GENDER MONITORING PROJECT Third And Final Annual Report By Thérèse Lajeunesse Christie Jefferson Joan Nuffield and Diana Majury With the Assistance of: Dianne MacDonald Betty Lou Edwards Thérèse Lajeunesse and Associates Ltd

RTF

Table of Contents

This report was prepared under contract to the Correctional Service of Canada. All three reports (1998, 1999 and 2000) reflect the views of the contracted Monitors and do not necessarily represent the views of CSC.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. INTRODUCTION

2. BACKGROUND

3. OVERALL APPROACH AND ACTIVITIES

4. KEY FINDINGS

a) Introduction

b) Interview Findings

c) Other Findings

(i) Cross Gender Staffing Policies and Guidelines

ii) Training and Selection

iii) Employment Issues

iv) Complaints, Grievances and Conflict Resolution

v) Incidents of Sexual Misconduct

vi) Investigations

vii) Viewing of Selected Videos

d) Submissions from Stakeholders

e) The Legal Context

i) International Law

ii) The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

iii) The Canadian Human Rights Act

iv) Employer Liability

v) The Corrections and Conditional Release Act

5. DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

a) Introduction

b) Advantages and Disadvantages of Cross Gender Staffing: Conclusions and Recommendations

c) Implementation of Recommendation One

i) Bona Fide Occupational Requirement

ii) Possible Charter Challenges by Federally Sentenced Women

d) Additional Related Issues

i) Handling of Sexual Abuse Allegations - The Context

ii) Options for Handling Allegations

iii) Minimum Standards

iv) The Preferred Option

v) Sexual Harassment Policy

vi) Mediation and Conflict Resolution and the Inmate Grievance System

e) Follow Up And Monitoring

Appendix A - Interview Schedules

Appendix B - CSC Women's Institutions And Maximum Security Units: National Operational Protocol - Front-Line Staffing

Appendix C - Submissions from Stakeholders