Commissioner's Directive

Closed Circuit Television Systems

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. The Director General, Security, will:
   1. provide oversight of the operational parameters and placement of closed circuit television system (CCTV) cameras and viewing stations. These parameters are prescribed in Annex B, Annex C, and Annex D of this directive
   2. review and approve the installation of any CCTV cameras, or viewing stations and camera views available on each station that do not fall within the prescribed parameters.
2. The Institutional Head/District Director will:
   1. ensure that signage is posted, where applicable, that indicates an area may be subject to video surveillance
   2. ensure that access to video recordings is strictly limited to those with a defined need to know
   3. ensure that local post and standing orders identify locations in which viewing stations are available, and which camera views are accessible at these stations.

PROCEDURES

CCTV Systems

3. The main purposes of CCTV systems are:
   1. to gather evidence
   2. to assist in the coordination of incident responses and improve safety
   3. to deter specific behaviours, such as violence, contraband smuggling, self-injury, and escape attempts, as well as to facilitate the observation of such behaviours
   4. as a means of identification for remote access control.
4. CCTV systems are deployed as part of one of three operational systems: perimeter intrusion detection systems (PIDS), supplementary intrusion detection systems (SIDS), and/or general CCTV systems.
   1. Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems (PIDS) - The CCTV system, as a component of the PIDS, consists of fixed cameras deployed around the perimeter of an institution and is controlled through the PIDS integration unit in the Main Communications and Control Post (MCCP).
   2. Supplementary Intrusion Detection Systems (SIDS) – The SIDS CCTV camera systems may consist of fixed and pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) cameras controlled by the MCCP or designated control posts to enable enhanced video assessment of incidents adjacent to the perimeter areas of the institution.
   3. General CCTV Systems – The general CCTV systems consist of fixed and PTZ cameras installed to provide CCTV coverage in areas, as required, that are not provided with coverage under the PIDS or SIDS. These areas may include living units, ranges, dining halls, kitchen areas, visits and correspondence areas, recreation areas, walkways, corridors, and the principal entrance.
5. The date and time must be synchronized for all the CCTV systems within each institution.

CCTV Installations

6. All CCTV camera installation locations will be determined in accordance with Annex B and Annex C.
7. Any requests for installations and accesses that are not identified in Annex B, Annex C or Annex D, will be submitted by the Institutional Head to the Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Correctional Operations, for review, and if supported, submitted to the Director General, Security, for approval.
8. Camera installations will be completed in a manner to provide optimum coverage of the assigned areas while minimizing blind spots.

Access to Live CCTV Feeds

9. All viewing station locations that provide access to live CCTV feeds, as well as which CCTV feeds are accessible will be determined in accordance with Annex D of this directive.
10. The viewing of live CCTV feeds will be strictly controlled and guided by what is reasonable and necessary. Monitoring of available CCTV feeds as prescribed in Annex D may also be used as supplementary surveillance and for controlling movement. Monitoring will never replace the dynamic security obligation of the frontline staff.
11. In the event of an emergency, live viewing of all CCTV feeds will normally be available to the MCCP, the Correctional Manager Duty Office, the Security Intelligence Office, and the Emergency Command Post. Where the PTZ cameras are controlled by multiple stations, the default user will be the MCCP officer unless directed otherwise by the Correctional Manager – Officer in Charge.
12. Access to live viewing of CCTV cameras for observation cells will normally be limited to the immediate control post.
13. Observation cell cameras will only be utilized for live viewing under the following circumstances:
    1. when occupied by an inmate placed for observation pursuant to CD 843 – Management of Inmate Self-Injurious and Suicidal Behaviour
    2. when occupied by an inmate placed for observation following a possible overdose
    3. pursuant to the dry cell procedures described in Annex D of CD 566-7 – Searching of Offenders.
14. At women offender facilities, CCTV monitoring of observation cells will be done in accordance with CD 577 – Staff Protocol in Women Offender Institutions.
15. The use of CCTV will be sensitive to the cultural and traditional practices of Indigenous offenders.

Storage, Access and Retrieval of Archived CCTV Recordings

16. All CCTV video recordings will be recorded on a centralized video archiving system and retained pursuant to CD 568-8 – Authority for Use of Surveillance Equipment.
17. Access to archived CCTV recordings will be available to CCTV viewing stations installed within the Central Equipment Room, the Security Intelligence Office, and the office of the Correctional Manager, Operations.
18. In the event that archived CCTV recordings are required as the result of an incident or for evidentiary purposes, recordings will be transferred by the Security Intelligence Officer or Correctional Manager via a viewing station equipped with the ability to write to blank DVD media and/or USB keys.
19. For the purpose of use of force review, any related recordings, including CCTV, that are relevant to the use of force exercised on offenders must be included in the use of force review package pursuant to CD 567-1 – Use of Force. The CCTV recordings will be uploaded to the Offender Management System pursuant to the OMS Use of Force Review User Guide.

 

Commissioner,

 

Original Signed by:

Don Head

ANNEX A

CROSS-REFERENCES AND DEFINITIONS

CROSS-REFERENCES

CD 001 – Mission, Values and Ethics Framework of the Correctional Service Canada
CD 004 – National Standards for the Deployment of Correctional Officers
CD 340 – Electronic Systems
CD 560 – Dynamic Security and Supervision
CD 566-7 – Searching of Offenders
CD 567-1 – Use of Force
CD 577 – Staff Protocol in Women Offender Institutions
CD 568-1 – Recording and Reporting of Security Incidents
CD 568-4 – Preservation of Crime Scenes and Evidence
CD 568-8 – Authority for Use of Surveillance Equipment
CD 650 – Technical Security Systems
CD 714 – Community Correctional Centre Standards
CD 843 – Management of Inmate Self-Injurious and Suicidal Behaviour

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Access to Information Act
Privacy Act
Criminal Code
Treasury Board Policy on Government Security

DEFINITIONS

Central Equipment Room : a room usually located adjacent to the MCCP and which serves as a secure area for the servers, switches, interconnections and maintenance interfaces that support the suite of Electronic Security Systems.

Closed circuit television system (CCTV) : televised scenes broadcast to selected receivers for evidentiary and surveillance purposes.

Need to know : information that is pertinent and necessary to an individual performing his/her duties.

ANNEX B

CCTV CAMERA INSTALLATION LOCATIONS – MEN'S INSTITUTIONS/UNITS*

Location	SHU	Maximum	Multi-Level	Medium	Minimum	CCC
PIDS CCTV	Required	Required	Required	Required	N/A	N/A
SIDS CCTV	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted
Principal Entrance	Required	Required	Required	Required	Permitted	Permitted
Controlled Entrance/ Exit Doors	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Required
Living Unit Ranges	Required	Required	Required	Required	No	N/A
Living Unit Common Areas	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Required
Segregation Ranges	Required	Required	Required	Required	N/A	N/A
Observation Cells	Required	Required	Required	Required	N/A	N/A
Segregation Recreation	Required	Required	Required	Required	N/A	N/A
Health Care	Required	Required	Required	Required	N/A	N/A
Kitchen Dining Rooms	Required	Required	Required	Required	Permitted	Permitted
Kitchen Cook/ Prep Areas	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted
Visiting Areas	Required	Required	Required	Required	Required	Permitted
Visiting Areas – Exterior	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted
Leisure and Recreation Areas	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted
Gymnasium	Required	Required	Required	Required	Permitted	N/A
Walkways/Corridors	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted

*For the purpose of clustered sites, security level of the unit applies.

“Permitted” is considered an area where cameras would reasonably be expected, but are not mandatory.

ANNEX C

CCTV CAMERA INSTALLATION LOCATIONS – WOMEN’S INSTITUTIONS

PIDS CCTV	Required
SIDS CCTV	Permitted
Principal Entrance	Required
Controlled Entrance/Exit Doors	Permitted
Secure Unit Ranges	Required
Secure Unit Common Areas	Permitted
Segregation Ranges	Required
Observation Cells	Required
Segregation Recreation	Required
SLE Unit Ranges	Permitted
SLE Common Areas	Permitted
Kitchen Cook/Prep Areas	Permitted
Health Care Dispensary	Permitted
Health Care Waiting Area	Permitted
Visits and Correspondence	Required
Visits and Correspondence Exterior	Permitted
Leisure and Recreation Areas	Permitted
Gymnasium	Permitted
Walkways/Corridors	Permitted
Minimum Units Common Areas	Permitted
Minimum Unit Exterior	Permitted
Houses	No

For the purpose of this policy, the standards for minimum security institutions in Annex B will apply to the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge with the exception that cameras in observation cells are permitted.

“Permitted” is considered an area where cameras would reasonably be expected, but are not mandatory.

ANNEX D

CCTV VIEWING STATION INSTALLATION LOCATIONS AND CAMERA ACCESS

CCTV SYSTEM

LOCATION	MCCP	CM DUTY OFFICE	SIO	EMERGENCY COMMAND POST	UNIT CONTROL	V&C	MOVEMENT CONTROL	SEGREGATION	GALLERY	KITCHEN OFFICE
PIDS CCTV
Perimeter	Yes1	Yes	Yes	Yes1	No	No	No	No	No	No
SIDS CCTV
Exterior Areas	Yes1	Yes	Yes	Yes1	No	No	No	No	No	No
LIVING UNIT CCTV
Unit Exterior/ Entrances	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes2	No	Yes	No	No	No
Unit Ranges	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes2	No	No	No	Yes2	No
Unit Common Areas	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes2	No	No	No	Yes2	No
Unit Recreation Areas	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	No	No	No	Yes2	No
Segregation Yards	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	No	No	No	Yes1	No	No
Segregation Ranges	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	No	No	No	Yes2	No	No
GENERAL CCTV
Observation Cells	No*	No*	No*	No*	Yes	No	No	Yes1	No	No
Kitchen Dining Rooms	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Kitchen Cook/ Prep Areas	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Health Care Waiting Area	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
Health Care Dispensary	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
Visits and Correspondence	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	No	Yes1	No	No	No	No
Leisure and Recreation Areas	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	No	No	Yes	No	Yes2	No
Gymnasium	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	No	No	Yes	No	Yes2	No
Walkways/ Corridors	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes2	No	Yes	No	Yes2	No
Principal Entrance	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	Yes1	No	No	No	No	No	No

1. Required.

2. Access by galleries and unit control posts will only be available when the natural sightlines are obscured or otherwise unavailable and/or to allow a single officer to monitor multiple locations simultaneously.

*  Access limited to emergency situations.

Note:
In Community Correctional Centres, viewing is only in the Commissionaires’ Office.

At minimum security institutions, viewing locations will be determined by local requirement and infrastructure.