Policy Bulletin

Policy Bulletin 502

Why have the policies changed?

As part of CSC’s Clustered Sites Initiative, a review of Commissioner's Directives was undertaken to support its new governance structure.

What has changed?

Initially, changes to certain policies were meant to apply only to clustered institutions but following further discussion, it was determined that these changes would benefit all other institutions as well.

The text in italics below details the changes to the following policies:

CHANGES THAT APPLY TO ALL INSTITUTIONS

CD 544 – Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters

9. The Institutional Head will ensure that:
   1. the inmate is notified
   2. his/her consent is obtained in writing
   3. the completed consent form and any information, particularly that of a security nature, which needs to be taken into consideration for the transfer is transmitted to the International Transfers Unit in the time prescribed. A copy will be sent to the Security Division and the region.

CD 566-5 – Non-Security Escorts

4. The Institutional Head or a person equivalent to or higher than a Correctional Manager will ensure that:
   1. only authorized individuals conduct non-security escorts and that the persons conducting the escort:
   1. are trained and have been briefed on escort policies and procedures
   2. have been briefed on their responsibilities as per Escort Briefing Form (CSC/SCC 0753)
   3. understand the level of supervision and contact requirements
   4. have a valid Reliability Status
   2. the level of supervision and contact requirements are determined based on an objective assessment of risk, including:
      1. the inmate’s security classification
      2. the inmate’s physical and mental health
      3. the inmate’s demonstrated behaviour and characteristics
      4. the purpose and destination of the escort, mode of travel and time in transit
      5. intelligence information.

CD 566-6 – Security Escorts

5. The Institutional Head or a person equivalent to or higher than a Correctional Manager will ensure that:
   1. a Threat Risk Assessment (TRA) for security escorts is completed for:
      1. any maximum security inmate when the Institutional Head has information which could affect the conditions of the escort
      2. any medium security inmate
      3. all inmates who are being transferred using air transportation
   2. escorting officers are thoroughly briefed on the inmate being escorted using the Escort Briefing Form (CSC/SCC 0753) and the TRA document available in the Offender Management System
   3. only firearms and equipment approved in the Security Equipment Manual and for which the escorting officer has been trained are issued
   4. when more than one escort team is involved in an escort for transfer purposes, the sending institution notifies the receiving institution of the completion of the TRA. In addition, a signed copy of the TRA must be provided by the escorting officers of the sending institution to the escort team of the receiving institution
   5. the level of supervision and the security equipment which can be used during the escort, are determined based on the results of the TRA
   6. if necessary, additional staff are assigned to an escort in addition to those required as outlined under Procedures – General
   7. the dress of inmates under escort is appropriate.

CD 710-5 – Judicial Review of Parole Ineligibility

1. The Institutional Head will ensure that:
   1. a staff member is assigned to complete the Parole Eligibility Report for the Purpose of Judicial Review
   2. a copy of the inmate’s application for Judicial Review is sent to the regional office of Justice Canada and CSC Legal Services.

CHANGES THAT APPLY TO CLUSTERED INSTITUTIONS

The following policies were amended to clarify processes within clustered institutions.

CD 705-3 – Immediate Needs Identification and Admission Interviews

3. Within 24 hours of the inmate’s arrival at a new institution or at a different security level location within a clustered institution and prior to cell assignment, staff responsible for the immediate needs identification, will conduct an interview with him/her to:
   1. review the immediate needs identification contained in the Preliminary Assessment for security and critical concerns
   2. document, in the Offender Management System (OMS), the additional security immediate needs as outlined in Annex C and complete the Immediate Needs Checklist – Suicide Risk (CSC/SCC 1433)
   3. gather information required for cell or room assignment pursuant to CD 550 – Inmate Accommodation, taking into account the nature and gravity of the offence
   4. review the alerts, flags and needs and update as required
   5. review co-convicted inmates and update as required
   6. provide a brief orientation to institutional operating procedures.

CD 705-4 – Orientation

1. The Institutional Head/District Director will:
   1. establish an orientation process to share with offenders the necessary information to assist them in making the most productive use of their time while in a Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) facility
   2. ensure that the local orientation process is completed within two weeks of an offender’s arrival
   3. ensure that upon placement or transfer, the offender is provided with information regarding rules and regulations specific to the facility. This also applies to inmates moving between different security levels within a clustered institution.

CD 710-1 – Progress Against the Correctional Plan

5. The Parole Officer will arrange an initial interview case conference to review the Correctional Plan and interview the inmate as soon as is practicable, but no later than 10 working days after his/her arrival at the institution, a change in security level in a clustered institution or a case reassignment. The interview will include the inmate, Parole Officer, Correctional Officer II/Primary Worker when available, and when applicable, other members of the Case Management Team to ensure continuity of the correctional planning process. The Parole Officer will document this interview in a Casework Record.
6. No less than the following will be addressed:
   1. progress against the Correctional Plan
   2. roles and objectives for the Case Management Team, including any changes to the frequency or structure of case management interventions
   3. objectives and expectations for the inmate, including court-ordered obligations
   4. when there is a change in the inmate’s security level within a clustered institution, there will be a review of previous decisions pertaining to CDs 559 – Visits, 710 3 – Temporary Absences, 710-4 – Perimeter Security Clearance, 710-7 – Work Releases, 710 8 – Private Family Visits and others if required.

CD 710-3 – Temporary Absences

30. Following the transfer of an inmate or the movement of an inmate in a clustered institution as a result of a change in security classification, the Parole Officer/Correctional Officer II will review all previously approved temporary absences and submit a recommendation to the Institutional Head, who will confirm, through a CSC Board Review/Decision process, whether the particular absence(s) will be implemented, modified or cancelled. Unless significant changes have occurred, a new Assessment for Decision is not required.

CD 710-4 – Perimeter Security Clearance

A new paragraph will be added:

Following the movement of an inmate in a clustered institution as a result of a change in security classification, the Correctional Officer II will review previously approved decisions related to perimeter security clearance, and submit a recommendation to the Institutional Head who will confirm through a CSC Board Review/Decision process, whether the perimeter clearance will be implemented, modified or cancelled. Unless significant changes have occurred, a new Assessment for Decision is not required.

CD 710-7 – Work Releases

24. Following the transfer of an inmate or the movement of an inmate in a clustered institution as a result of a change in security classification, the Parole Officer/Correctional Officer II will review the previously approved work release and submit a recommendation to the Institutional Head, who will confirm through a CSC Board Review/Decision process, whether the particular work releases will be implemented, modified or cancelled. Unless significant changes have occurred, a new Assessment for Decision is not required.

CD 710-8 – Private Family Visits

15. Following the transfer of an inmate or the movement of an inmate in a clustered institution as a result of a change in security classification, the Correctional Officer II will review the previously approved private family visit and submit a recommendation to the Institutional Head or designate who will confirm through a CSC Board Review/ Decision process, whether the private family visit will be implemented, modified or cancelled. Unless significant changes have occurred or the private family visit is not supported, a new Assessment for Decision as per Annex B is not required.

How were they developed?

These policies have been developed by the Transformation and Renewal Team in collaboration with the Institutional Heads of the clustered sites, the Correctional Operations and Programs Sector, Legal Services, Corporate Services and the Strategic Policy Division.

Accountabilities?

Accountability remains the same as currently detailed in Commissioner's Directives; however, some responsibilities can be designated at all institutions and some processes have been adapted for clustered institutions to reflect their operational realities as per above.

Who will be affected by the policies?

Management, staff and inmates in institutions.

Expected cost?

None.

Other impacts?

The changes will eventually be incorporated in each of the specific CDs; however, in the interim they are all included here for ease of reference.

Contacts:

• Director
  
• Institutional Reintegration Operations
  
• 613-996-3622


• Director
  
• Security Operations, Procedures and Monitoring
  
• 613-995-7954

Commissioner,

Original Signed by:
Don Head