Interim Policy Bulletin 690


Interim Policy Bulletin

Number: 690

In Effect: 2022-06-13

Related links:

Commissioner's Directive (CD) 711: Structured Intervention Units

Policy number and title:

Commissioner's Directive (CD) 711: Structured Intervention Units

Why was the policy changed?

The policy was revised to clarify the management and delivery of programs, interventions and services within a Structured Intervention Unit (SIU), and provide flexibility when determining referrals to programs/ interventions. The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has closely monitored the operations of the SIUs since their implementation in November 2019. Through monitoring the SIUs and maintaining ongoing communication with staff at SIU sites, amendments to the policy were required in order to be more reflective of the operational needs of the SIUs.

What has changed?

Amendments have been made to the body of CD 711: Structured Intervention Units, as well as to Annex D: Correctional, Educational and Social Programs Delivered in the SIU in a Men's Institution. For the full list of changes, please consult Annex A: English Changes, of this Interim Policy Bulletin.

How was it developed?

Amendments to CD 711 and to Annex D of this policy were developed by the Offender Programs and Reintegration Branch, in consultation with the Strategic Policy Division.

Who will be affected by the policy?

These amendments apply to program staff and supervisors working in an SIU and in sending institutions.

Annex A: English Changes

Changes to CD 711: Structured Intervention Units
Previous Direction Current Direction
  1. All inmates in a men's institution who are placed in an SIU will be considered for a referral to the Motivational Module, Structured Intervention Unit (MM-SIU) or the Motivational Module, Structured Intervention Unit: Indigenous (MM-SIU-I), regardless of whether they have an identified correctional program need.

This previous policy direction was enhanced to specify the position responsible for ensuring that inmates in a men's institution are considered for a referral to the interventions developed specifically to address the reasons for inmates' transfer to an SIU.

  1. The SIU Parole Officer, in consultation with the Case Management Team, will ensure referrals to the Motivational Module, Structured Intervention Unit (MM-SIU) or the Motivational Module, Structured Intervention Unit: Indigenous (MM-SIU-I) are considered for all inmates in a men's institution who are confined in an SIU, regardless of whether they have an identified need for correctional programs.
  1. The continuation of a program, intervention or services that commenced prior to an inmate's transfer to an SIU will be prioritized, pending approval by the Structured Intervention Unit Correctional Intervention Board (SIU-CIB)/IDT.

This previous policy direction was enhanced to specify the position responsible for determining the most appropriate program and/or intervention. In addition, considerations have been added in order to help guide the decision.

  1. The SIU Parole Officer, in consultation with the Case Management Team, will assess the inmate's case to determine the most appropriate program/intervention to address the inmate's specific needs during their SIU confinement. This assessment will be documented in the Structured Intervention Unit Correctional Plan Update (CPU-SIU), as per Annex G of GL 711-1: Structured Intervention Unit (SIU) Transfer Procedures, SIU Sites.

The referenced paragraph was not previously in the policy direction.

The following paragraph has been added to the Programs, interventions, services and leisure section to emphasize that Indigenous inmates' preference for Indigenous programs/interventions should be prioritized to ensure CSC provides effective, culturally appropriate interventions and reintegration support for First Nations, Métis and Inuit inmates:

The SIU Parole Officer, in consultation with the Case Management Team, will ensure that referrals to Indigenous programs/interventions for Indigenous offenders take precedence over referrals to the non-lndigenous equivalent programs/interventions, pursuant to GL 726-2: National Correctional Program Referral Guidelines. This consideration will be documented in the offender's Structured Intervention Unit Correctional Plan Update (CPU-SIU) as per Annex G of GL 711-1: Structured Intervention Unit (SIU) Transfer Procedures, SIU Sites.

The referenced paragraph was not previously in the policy direction.

The following paragraph has been added to the Programs, interventions, services and leisure section to ensure that inmates are provided with the opportunity to continue participating in their programs/interventions until they are physically transferred out of the SIU, as the transfer may take place after the date of the transfer decision:

The SIU Manager or Manager, Intensive Intervention Strategy (MIIS), will ensure the delivery of correctional and education programs/ interventions continues until the inmate is physically transferred out of an SIU.

Changes to CD 711: Annex D, Correctional, Educational and Social Programs Delivered in the SIU in a Men's Institution
Previous direction Current direction
  1. Referrals to the appropriate stream of MM-SIU will normally be made via an administrative referral by the SIU Parole Officer.

Previous policy direction did not indicate the specific requirements for maintaining program schedules as continuous or non-continuous for the MM-SIU interventions. As such, this direction has been added to ensure a standardized approach in managing the MM-SIU program schedules.

3. Referrals to the appropriate stream of MM-SIU will normally be made via an administrative referral by the SIU Parole Officer. The MM-SIU interventions will be maintained as a continuous program schedule in OMS and managed as per GL 726-3: National Correctional Program Management Guidelines.

  1. The SIU-CIB will:
    1. assign the inmate to MM-SIU/MM-SIU-I in OMS using the program assignment status of "Assigned", in order to allow program delivery to commence at the earliest possible time. There is no requirement to use the program assignment status "Waitlisted".

This previous policy direction was enhanced to allow the flexibility of using the "Waitlisted" assignment status when there is a delay in offering the intervention.

  1. The SIU-CIB will:
    1. assign the inmate to MM-SIU/MM-SIU-I in OMS using the program assignment status "Assigned", in order to allow program delivery to commence at the earliest possible time. There is no requirement to use the program assignment status "Waitlisted"; however, it may be used should there be a delay in offering the intervention.
  1. When an inmate is participating in the MM-SIU/MM-SIU-I, the SIU CPO/ICPO will:
    1. normally complete a final report within a maximum of 10 working days for all inmates whose program assignment to MM-SIU/MM-SIU-I has ended. However, in cases where the decision to transfer has been made, the final report will be completed within a maximum of 3 working days from the date of the approved transfer decision

This previous policy direction was enhanced to align the program report requirements with the program end date instead of the date of the transfer decision to more accurately capture the time the inmate participated in the intervention.

  1. When an inmate is participating in the MM-SIU/MM-SIU-I, the SIU CPO/ICPO will:
    1. complete a final report for all inmates whose program assignment to the MM-SIU/MM-SIU-I has ended, within a maximum of 10 working days as per GL 726-3: National Correctional Program Management Guidelines.
  1. When an inmate is continuing a correctional program that commenced prior to the inmate's approved transfer to the SIU in a men's institution, the Manager, Programs, from the sending institution will ensure that:
    1. the program assignment status is changed from "Temporarily Reassigned: SIU" to the appropriate assignment status according to GL 726-3: National Correctional Program Management Guidelines, should the inmate be approved for a transfer from the SIU

This previous policy direction was enhanced to clarify that the program status should be updated when the program ends or when the inmate physically transfers out of the SIU instead of on the date of the transfer decision. This will more accurately capture the time the inmate participated in the correctional program.

  1. When an inmate is continuing a correctional program that commenced prior to the inmate's approved transfer to the SIU in a men's institution, the Manager, Programs, from the sending institution will ensure that:
    1. the program assignment status is changed from "Temporarily Reassigned: SIU" to the appropriate assignment status, according to GL 726-3: National Correctional Program Management Guidelines, when the program ends or when the inmate is physically transferred out of the SIU
  1. The SIU-CIB will:
    1. assign the inmate to the appropriate correctional programs in OMS using the program assignment status "Assigned", in order to allow program delivery to commence at the earliest possible time. There is no requirement to use the program assignment status "Waitlisted".

This previous policy direction was enhanced to allow the flexibility of using the "Waitlisted" assignment status when there is a delay in offering the intervention.

  1. The SIU-CIB will:
    1. assign the inmate to the appropriate correctional program in OMS using the program assignment status "Assigned", in order to allow program delivery to commence at the earliest possible time. There is no requirement to use the program assignment status "Waitlisted"; however, it may be used should there be a delay in offering the intervention.
  1. The SIU CPO/ICPO will:
    1. ensure that the program assignment is ended, as per GL 726-3: National Correctional Program Management Guidelines when the inmate is approved for a transfer from the SIU
    2. normally complete a final report within a maximum of 10 working days for all inmates whose program assignment to MM-SIU/MM-SIU-I has ended. However, in cases where the decision to transfer has been made, the final report will be completed within a maximum of 3 working days from the date of the approved transfer decision.

This previous policy direction was enhanced to align the program status and the program final report requirements with the program assignment end date instead of the date of the transfer decision to more accurately capture the time the inmate participated in the intervention.

  1. The SIU CPO/ICPO will:
    1. ensure that the program assignment is ended, as per GL 726-3: National Correctional Program Management Guidelines
    2. complete a final report for all inmates whose program assignment to a correctional program has ended, within a maximum of 10 working days as per GL 726-3: National Correctional Program Management Guidelines.
  1. When an inmate is continuing an education program that commenced prior to the inmate's approved transfer to the SIU in a men's institution, the Chief of Education or the Manager, Programs, responsible for the original education program assignment (sending institution) will ensure that:
    1. the program assignment status is changed from "Temporarily Reassigned: SIU" to the appropriate assignment status according to GL 720-1: Guidelines for Education Programs, should the inmate be approved for a transfer from the SIU

This previous policy direction was enhanced to clarify that the program status should be updated when the program ends or when the inmate physically transfers out of the SIU instead of on the date of the transfer decision. This will more accurately capture the time the inmate participated in the education program.

  1. When an inmate is continuing an education program that commenced prior to the inmate's approved transfer to the SIU in a men's institution, the Chief, Education, or the Manager, Programs, responsible for the original education program assignment (sending institution) will ensure that:
    1. the program assignment status is changed from "Temporarily Reassigned: SIU" to the appropriate assignment status, according to GL 720-1: Guidelines for Education Programs, when the program ends or when the inmate is physically transferred out of the SIU
  1. The SIU Teacher will:
    1. ensure that the program assignment is ended, as per GL 720-1:  Guidelines for Education Programs, when the inmate is approved for a transfer from the SIU
    2. normally complete a final report within a maximum of 10 working days for all inmates whose program assignment to an education program has ended. However, in cases where the decision to transfer has been made, the final report will be completed within a maximum of three (3) working days from the date of the approved transfer decision.

This previous policy direction was enhanced to align the program status and the program final report requirements with the program assignment end date instead of the date of the transfer decision to more accurately capture the time the inmate participated in the education program.

  1. The SIU Teacher will:
    1. ensure that the program assignment is ended, as per GL 720-1: Guidelines for Education Programs
    2. complete a final report for all inmates whose program assignment to an education program has ended, within a maximum of 10 working days as per GL 720-1: Guidelines for Education Programs.
  1. When an inmate is participating in the SIU Social Program, the SIU Social Program Officer (SIU-SPO) will:
    1. The referenced paragraph was not previously in the policy direction.

This previous policy direction was enhanced to clarify when the SIU-SPO is to complete the responsibilities listed under paragraph 25.

  1. When an inmate is transferred to an SIU, the SIU Social Program Officer (SIU SPO) will:
    1. A new responsibility has been added for the SIU-SPO, under paragraph 25, as the SIU-SPO is in the best position to identify an inmate's needs with respect to social programming.
    2. meet with the inmate in the SIU, as soon as possible but no later than one working day after the inmate is transferred to the SIU, to determine the inmate's social program needs, using the SIU Social Program Referral Tool.
  1. The SIU Parole Officer (SIU-PO), in consultation with the SIU-SPO, will complete the SIU Social Program Referral Tool in order to determine the inmate's social program needs while completing the initial SIU Correctional Plan Update (CPU-SIU).

Paragraph 26 has been removed from Annex D, as the completion of the SIU Social Program Referral Tool is no longer the SIU Parole Officer's responsibility.

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