Women Offender Programs and Issues

Cross Gender Monitoring Project

6. PLAN FOR PHASE 3

This Annual Report has, in a number of instances, signaled when certain topics raised in Phase 2 will be assigned a high priority for Phase 3. These are the following:

• Consultation regarding the Suggested Policy Content of Cross Gender Staffing guidelines as included in this report;

• Outline of appropriate consequences for violations of National Protocol;

• Follow-up regarding the recommendation of an explicit sexual harassment policy;

• Consideration of what legislative, regulatory, procedural or policy changes should occur, if any, to address systemic issues;

• Assessing in more detail why FSW at BCCW prefer female front line staffing and a similarly all female front line staffed institutions, i.e., EIFW has a strong preference for male front line staffing;

• Detailed rationales from FSW who express a preference for male front line or female front line workers;

• Obtaining information from each institution about their plans and protocols should an emergency arise and whether these plans have cross gender implications;

• A detailed review of the complaint and grievance systems and implications for FSW making complaints or grievances regarding sexual misconduct;

• An analysis of why FSW tend to complain to the Office of the Correctional Investigator rather than CSC's grievance system;

• Consultation regarding Employment Issues as outlined in this report;

• An assessment of requirements of PW position in light of bona fide occupational requirements and the Public service Employment Act:;

• A review of Canada's position regarding front line staffing in light of international obligations;
• An examination of issues related to "consensual sex"; and

• Further information gathering about the application of mediation and conflict resolution; and

• A review of the need for ongoing monitoring by an appropriate body.

Also, although not stated in the body of the preceding report a high priority will be accorded to the special needs of Aboriginal Women and other racial minorities. This was however, identified as a special area of inquiry in our First Annual Report.

The approach for Phase 3 will be similar to that undertaken in Phase 2, i.e. interviews, site visits and review of all pertinent documentation. The proposed cross gender guidelines found in this report will be summarized in a short handout and used for consultation with all respondents, with a special mailing to National Stakeholders.

The Workplan is presented on the following page.

Phase Three Workplan

Activities

More specifically, Phase 3 activities will include:

• site visits to all institutions with interviews with all respondent groups identified, i.e. staff, inmates, representatives of Citizen Advisory Committees, Union representatives, community service organizations, Native Women's Associations etc.;
• ongoing collection of CSC policies relevant to the Project Team's mandate;
• review of staff selection procedures and training materials;
• review of data regarding complaints and grievances;
• review of the physical design of institutions;
• ongoing consultation with relevant stakeholders;
• ongoing consultations with CSC officials as required;
• ongoing liaison with the Correctional Investigator's office and the Human Rights' Commission to monitor types of complaints received; and,
• others as required.

Time Frame

The time frame for Phase 3 is June 1, 1999 to March 31, 2000.

Annual Report

As with other years, the final year will conclude with the Third Annual and the report will include findings from all sources. Final recommendations will be advanced.