Use Of Non-Intrusive Search Tools

Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0P9

Your File :  

Our File :  

Date :  

To : Visitor's Name

Positive Indication Using Non-Intrusive Search Tools

Please be informed that as a result of a routine non-intrusive search that was conducted on you by this institution with your consent and pursuant to policy, there has been a positive indication by the following search tool(s) :

•   Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) device (i.e. ionscan);
•   drug detector dog;
•   other (Please list :                                       )

During the search using the IMS device, the sample taken from your person or belongings indicated at or above the identified allowable threshold for the following substance(s) :

•  Cocaine (includes crack)
•   Heroin
•   Morphine
•   L-amphetamine
•   Amphetamine
•   (+) Methamphetamine
•   Methamphetamine
•   Methylenedioxyamphetamine – MDA
•   Methylenedioxymethamphetamine – MDMA
•   MDEA
•   THC (component of hash/marijuana)
•   LSD – D-lysergic acid diethylamide (acid)
•   Phencyclidine (PCP)
•   Hash/marijuana
•   LSD
•   Benzyleconine
•   Econidine Methylester
•   Opium
•   Oxycodone

The results of these searches constitute your personal information and are subject to the provisions of the Privacy Act; therefore, we cannot disclose this information directly to the person you were to visit. However, with your written consent, we can arrange to share a gist summary of the search results.

In accordance with legislation, policies and procedures regarding the searching of visitors, this positive indication will be treated as one piece of information that contributes to a determination of the risk that you as a visitor may represent for the security of the penitentiary or the safety of any individual.

In order to determine this risk, a thorough and objective Threat Risk Assessment and interview have been conducted and, as a result of this determination, it has been decided that CSC will :

•   allow a regular open visit;
•   allow a visit with restricted or designated seating;
•   allow a non-contact or closed visit;
•   refuse your access and ask that you leave the institution;
•   give you the opportunity to leave the institution (prior to your voluntary submission to have a strip search conducted);
•   obtain written authorization from the Institutional Head to conduct a strip search on you;
•   detain you and obtain the services of the police.

Please be informed that you are entitled to five working days from the date of this notification to make representations (verbally or in writing) on your behalf that will be considered by the VRB in their decision. You may submit your representations to the following VRB contact person :

(name)  

(rank/position)  

(address)  

(telephone no. and extension)  

The VRB will meet to review and consider all relevant information regarding your case within five working days following the period for you to make representations.

In accordance with Commissioner's Directive 559 – Visits, the decision of the VRB will be communicated to you in writing, within 14 calendar days from the date of the meeting.

Staff member :  

Signature :  

Distribution :

• Original – Visitor
• Copy – Preventive Security File

Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0P9

Your File :  

Our File :  

Date :  

To : Inmate's Name

Positive Indication Using Non-Intrusive Search Tools

As a result of a legal routine non-intrusive search conducted by this institution on your visitor with his/her consent (pursuant to policy), there has been a positive indication by the following search tool(s) :

•   Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) device (i.e. ionscan);
•   drug detector dog;
•   other (Please list :                         )

During the search using the IMS device, the sample submitted by your visitor indicated at or above the identified allowable threshold for one of the identified substances. The results of these searches constitute personal information and are subject to the provisions of the Privacy Act; therefore, they cannot be disclosed to you directly (if applicable).

In accordance with legislation, policies and procedures regarding the searching of visitors, this positive indication will be treated as one piece of information that contributes to a determination of the risk that the visitor may represent for the security of the penitentiary or the safety of any individual.

In order to determine this risk, a thorough and objective Threat Risk Assessment and interview have been conducted by the designated officer and, as a result of this determination, it has been decided that CSC will :

•   allow a regular open visit;
•   allow a visit with restricted or designated seating;
•   allow a non-contact or closed visit;
•   refuse your visitor access and ask that he/she leaves the institution;
•   give your visitor the opportunity to leave the institution (prior to his/her voluntary submission to have a strip search conducted);
•   obtain authorization from the Institutional Head to conduct a strip search of your visitor;
•   detain your visitor and obtain the services of the police.

As a result of these events, your visitor's status will now be reviewed by the Visitor Review Board (VRB), who will assess the case and decide what, if any, measures will be taken regarding your visiting privileges.

Please be informed that you and your visitor are entitled to five working days from the date of this notification to make representations (verbally or in writing) on his/her behalf that will be considered by the VRB in their decision. Your visitor may submit these representations to the VRB contact person.

The VRB will meet to review and consider all relevant information regarding your visitor's case within five working days following the period for your visitor to make representations.

In accordance with Commissioner's Directive 559 – Visits, the decision of the VRB will be communicated to you and your visitor in writing, within 14 calendar days from the date of the meeting.

Staff member :  

Signature :  

Distribution :

• Original – Inmate
• Copy – Visits and Correspondence File 3280

Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0P9

Your File :  

Our File :  

Date :  

To :  , staff member

From :  , Institutional Head

Designation Letter from Institutional Head

This letter confirms that you have been designated to conduct Threat Risk Assessments and decisions in accordance with the Guidelines for CD 566-8 – Searching of Staff and Visitors.

In relation to this designation, you will be responsible for responding to any situation which necessitates a Threat Risk Assessment at the principal entrance.

It is expected that you will conduct the Threat Risk Assessments with thoroughness and in a consistent and professional manner. All persons are to be treated with respect and courtesy in accordance with the principles of CSC's Mission Statement and Core Values.

Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0P9

Your File :  

Our File :  

Date :  

To : Visitor's Name

From :  , Institutional Head,   Institution

Searches of Individuals Visiting Federal Correctional Facilities

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is committed to the reduction of drug usage and drug-related violence in federal correctional facilities. The link between the introduction of drugs into CSC institutions and increasing violence within these institutions has been clearly established. As a visitor, you can play an important role in stopping the trafficking and use of drugs.

CSC has in place a variety of searching procedures and tools to stop the introduction of drugs into institutions. The purpose of this note is to explain some of the processes that you may be required to go through when entering the institution.

All visitors must sign in at the principal entrance and confirm their identity with appropriate identification. At this time, and in accordance with the Visiting Application and Information Form (Inmate) (CSC/SCC 0653E), which is mandatory to obtain approval for visiting privileges, visitors are requested to consent to routine searches (see definitions below) of their person and belongings. If a visitor refuses to submit to being searched, a contact visit may be prohibited and the visitor may be required to leave the penitentiary forthwith, or offered a non-contact visit, at the discretion of the Institutional Head.

The searches may occur both when entering and leaving the institution and may consist of any of the following types of searches :

Routine Non-Intrusive Searches :

• metal detector (walk-through and/or hand-held);
• X-ray machine (for personal belongings);
• Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) device (i.e. ionscan);
• drug detector dog;
• visual observation;
• manual or technical search of personal possessions, including items the individual may be carrying and any coat or jacket that the person has been requested to remove.

Routine Frisk Searches :

• manual or technical search of the clothed body;
• a frisk search will be carried out from head to foot, down the front and rear of the body, around the legs and inside clothing folds, pockets and footwear.

A positive indication using these searching techniques will be treated as one piece of information that contributes to a determination of the risk that a visitor may represent for the security of the penitentiary or the safety of any individual.

In the case of any positive indication by the IMS device or by the drug detector dog, the visitor will be asked to step aside and a Threat Risk Assessment and interview by a designated officer will be initiated.

The results of the interview are to be considered in combination with any other information that may be available, such as related intelligence information, past inmate and/or visitor history, observed behaviour, and the search results of one or more means. Each visitor will be given the opportunity to provide an explanation for the positive search result(s). At this time, you should be prepared to declare any medications (prescribed or otherwise) or describe any personal, hygienic or household products that you believe may be a contributing factor for the positive indication by the IMS device.

In the case of all searches involving visitors and in accordance with the CCRA, the CCRR and Commissioner's Directive 566-8 – Searching of Staff and Visitors, the decisions that may be rendered include :

• allowing an open (or contact) visit;
• allowing a visit with restricted or designated seating;
• allowing a non-contact or closed visit;
• refusing access and asking the person to leave the facility;
• giving the visitor the opportunity to leave the institution (prior to his/her voluntary submission to have a strip search conducted);
• detaining the visitor to conduct a strip search (with the written authorization from the Institutional Head); or
• detaining the visitor and obtaining the services of the police.

Please note that the use of these searching tools and the subsequent decisions are aimed at stopping the entry of illegal drugs into federal penitentiaries and creating a safer environment for all. Our sole intent is to prevent and deter people from bringing drugs into our federal institutions.

As noted above, a drug detector dog may be used for routine non-intrusive searches. CSC drug detector dogs are passive dogs and contact with people during searching is not planned as part of the search. The Dog Handler will go to great lengths to avoid any contact; however, despite everyone's best intentions, there may be times where inadvertent and unintended contact occurs.

It is also important that you are aware of the possibility that you or your loved one may be approached, requested, manipulated or even demanded by individual inmates or their contacts in the community to convince you to attempt to introduce illicit drugs or contraband during your visit. We understand that there are often extenuating circumstances that exist both inside and outside of the penitentiary that, when combined with other contributing factors, may exert enough pressure on a person to persuade him/her to attempt to commit a criminal offence such as this.

I urge you, if you have any information regarding illegal activities, or if you are faced with such a situation, please contact me directly and I will take all appropriate measures to ensure you and your contacts are kept safe from harm and not adversely affected by possible repercussions.

I would like to thank you for your understanding and anticipated cooperation in these matters.