Correctional Service of Canada
Encyclopedia
The Correctional Service of Canada , or CSC, (formerly Canadian Penitentiary Service) is the Canadian federal government agency responsible for the incarceration
and rehabilitation
of convicted criminal
offenders sentenced to two years or more. The system has its headquarters in Ottawa
.
The Correctional Service of Canada came into being on December 21, 1978, when Queen Elizabeth II
signed authorization for the newly commissioned agency and presented it with its Armorial Bearings.
The Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada is recommended for appointment by the Prime Minister and approved by an Order in Council. This appointed position reports directly to the Minister of Public Safety Canada and is accountable to the public via the Parliament
.
The current Commissioner of Corrections is Don Head, who has held this post since June 27, 2008. Head previously served as Senior Deputy Commissioner from 2002 until June 2008.
by the Philadelphia Quakers
in the 1780s, the concept of penitence—isolation, work and religious contemplation—influenced the design and operation of prisons, not only in North America, but also in Europe, South America and Asia. The "Auburn System
" developed at the Auburn Penitentiary in New York
adopted the penitentiary sentence of the Philadelphia model, but added prisoners' labour, in the belief that work and training would assist in reforming criminals. The Kingston Penitentiary
, based on the Auburn System, was built in 1835. Initially operated as a provincial jail, the penitentiary came under federal jurisdiction following the passage of the British North America Act in 1867.
In 1868, the first Penitentiary Act brought prisons in Saint John, New Brunswick
and Halifax
, along with Kingston, under federal jurisdiction. Over the next twelve years, the federal government built Saint-Vincent-de-Paul Penitentiary in Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, Quebec
(1873), Manitoba Penitentiary
, in Stoney Mountain, Manitoba (1877), British Columbia Penitentiary, in New Westminster, British Columbia (1878) and Dorchester Penitentiary
, in Dorchester, New Brunswick (1880).
The regime of these prisons included productive labour during the day, solitary confinement during leisure hours and the rule of silence at all times. While there was no parole, prisoners with good conduct could have three days per month remitted from their sentence.
, published in 1938, proposed sweeping changes for Canadian penitentiaries, with emphasis on crime prevention and the rehabilitation of prisoners. The Commission recommended a complete revision of penitentiary regulations to provide "strict but humane discipline and the reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners." While the commission's recommendations were not immediately implemented due to the advent of World War II, much of the report's philosophy remains influential.
After the war, prison populations rose, causing overcrowding and prison disturbances. This led to the creation of the Fauteux Committee in 1953. The Committee saw prisons not merely as fulfilling a custodial role, but also to provide programs that would promote "worthwhile and creative activity" and address the basic behaviour, attitudes and patterns of inmates. This meant prisons had to change to support such programs and provide opportunities for vocational training, pre-release and after-care programs. The Fauteux Report recommended hiring more, and better-trained, personnel, including those with professional qualifications in social work, psychology, psychiatry, criminology and law. An important legacy of the Committee was the creation of the National Parole Board in 1959 and the development of a system of parole
to replace the former ticket of leave
system. While stating that parole was not to be a reduction, or undermining, of the sentence, the committee emphasized its strong support for parole:
The Penitentiary Act was amended in 1961 and a plan enacted to build ten new penitentiaries across Canada to implement the Fauteaux Committee’s recommendations.
. (June 27, 2008-current)
The Correctional Service of Canada only has jurisdiction over offenders in Canada for court-imposed sentences 24 months (two years) or greater.
A determinate sentence is a sentence with a completion date (example five years, seven months), called a "Warrant Expiry". This date is court imposed, at which time the Correctional Service of Canada no longer has jurisdiction over the offender.
An indeterminate sentence is a sentence that is commonly referred to as a "life sentence". The Correctional Service of Canada has jurisdiction over the offender until the offender passes away. Although the court does impose a minimum number of years before the offender can apply to the Parole Board of Canada for conditional release. Thus, a court-imposed sentence of life with no parole for twenty-five years would indicate that the offender would be incarcerated for a minimum of twenty five years prior to consideration for a potential conditional release to the community, under the supervision of a community parole officer.
As of 2006 the incarceration rate in Canada was 107 per 100,000 people; one seventh that of the United States'.
Once an offender is sentenced by a court to a sentence of two (2) years or more the offender comes under the jurisdiction of the Correctional Service of Canada. An institutional parole officer completes a comprehensive assessment of the offender's criminality and formulates an "offender security classification report" and a "correctional plan". It is this correctional plan that the offender will be assessed against for the entire court-imposed sentence. For offenders who receive a life sentence, there is a mandatory two year residency at a maximum security institution, regardless of the offender's behaviour.
(Ottawa
, Ontario
).
Employees working at federal penitentiaries are designated as federal Peace Officer
s under Section 10 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Acthttp://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C-44.6/230765.html#rid-230776.
s under Section 10 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Acthttp://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C-44.6/230765.html#rid-230776.
The rank structure in CSC begins at entry as a Correctional Officer I, otherwise known as COI. These officers are responsible for security functions at the institution including patrol, security posts, and escorts.
A Correctional Officer II, or COII, is typically assigned to positions requiring a more senior officer including living units, communications, or visits. Correctional Officers who are specifically designated for Federally Sentenced Women (FSW) are called Primary Workers and have an entry rank
of COII.
Once officers move into a supervisory role, which starts at Staff Training Facilitator, the uniform shirt colour is changed from navy blue to light blue.
The Correctional Manager, or CM, is the Institutional Supervisor, and historically had been referred to as the "Keeper of the Keys", or in short the "Keeper". All rank insignia
is worn as shoulder epaulettes attached to the shoulder straps of the uniform as either the word "RECRUIT" for officer recruits currently in training, or as 1, 2, 3, or 4 gold bars. Senior rank (worn as epaulettes and typically only present on dress uniforms) are as follows:
Commissioner: Crown, above a crossed key and torch, with three 'towers' displayed below.
Asst. Commissioner: Same as above, but with two towers.
Regional Deputy Commissioner: Same as above, but with one tower.
Uniformed Correctional Officers employed by CSC are unionized with and supported by the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO). Grievances filed in relation to potential breaches of the union contract have three appeals. The first level grievance is within the institution, the second level at the regional headquarters, and the third being the national headquarters. If resolution with the management, at the lowest level does not transpire, then some issues may be sent forward to the Public Service Labour Relations Board. The decision of the Board is then legally enforcable and binding on both parties, as it is with all other government departments.
Dress uniforms echo the same rank as displayed above. Each facility has a Ceremonial Unit that represent the Service at formal events across Canada and internationally. Examples of recent events include local and ceremonial parades, funerals, recruit graduations, and national and international commemoration services.
The Ceremonial Unit consists of a Guard of Honour, the CSC Community Pipes and Drums Band and a Ceremonial Guard. Through their activities, the Unit is a proud public face for the Service’s Correctional Officers, Parole Officers, and staff, who play an important role in keeping communities safe for Canadians.
Ceremonial rank structure is as follows, typically worn as epaulettes on the dress uniform shirt and tunic.
National Ceremonial Commander: Three pips centered with crossed key and torch.
National Sergeant Major: Rank positioned on the right sleeve depicting Canada’s Coat of Arms a crossed key and torch encircled by a laurel wreath. Crimson shoulder sash to be worn under strap, over right shoulder and across to left hip.
Regional Ceremonial Commander: Three pips.
Regional Sergeant Major: Rank positioned on the right sleeve depicting the Tudor Crown, a crossed key and torch, encircled by a laurel wreath. Crimson sash worn over the right shoulder and positioned under the right epaulette and right tunic lapel.
Institutional Squad Leader: Two pips.
Institutional Squad (2 i/c): One pip.
, the CSC has formed Emergency Response Teams to support existing security functions. The IERT will respond to situations that require or may require a use of force
or a special tactical response. These teams can be established across an entire region or within a single institution, depending on the size.
See also Correctional Emergency Response Team
Quebec
Ontario
Prairies
Pacific
Among the institutions are "healing lodges" for Aboriginal offenders.
Each institution and parole office forms the 'local committee' for which the CSC consult with on matters regarding correctional operations, programs, policies, and plans. They in turn participates in the regional committee (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Prairies and Pacific) to coordinate initiatives for the region. Finally, the National Executive Committee is made up of the five CAC Regional Chairpersons as well as by the National Chairperson who are responsible for liaison between the committees and the CSC HQ, monitor and review all policies or actions of the CSC at the local, regional and national levels and adopts cohesive stragety for all committees.
All CAC members have, by law, the authority to have reasonable access to every part of the institution/parole office they are attached to, talk with all the staff and offenders or parolee within the organization and access to hearings (if the offender consents). These authorities are given to members once they have their application approved and security clearance approved by CSC National Headquarters.
had the year designated the Year of the Veteran. At Kent Maximum Security Institution Officer Shane Firlotte submitted a proposal for all Correctional Officers who were also veterans, to be able to wear the Year of the Veteran pin on their uniforms. The Commissioner of Corrections, with the support of the Chief of the Defence Staff
, authorized the wearing of the pin, via a national memorandum to all staff, on the left breast pocket until December 31, 2005. This being in recognition of veterans continued service to the Public Service
of Canada.
, who is now special counsel to the Ontario Attorney General's Office for Victims of Crime, stated that the Correctional Service of Canada is out of control and that "I think Canadians have good reason to be outraged."
Newmark stated that there is a big push in Correctional Services to get more offenders out of penitentiaries and onto the street in what is called "The Reintegration Project." Although this policy is cheaper than keeping convicts imprisoned, Newark's office contends convicts are being shoved out the door to meet a release quota. Newark stated that he had obtained documents to prove this, including memos, minutes, and confidential Corrections correspondence, and an internal memorandum talk about setting a "goal of a 50/50 split of offenders between institutions and the community."
Lawrence MacAulay
, who was the Solicitor General in charge of the CSC when the documents were written, denied that there were any quotas, stating that: "There are no quotas. There never was... If anybody has the idea of a quota, they forgot to check with the minister." However, shortly after this interview, MacAulay resigned and Wayne Easter
took over as solicitor general.
An internal Corrections audit reported that parole officers are overwhelmed. A senior union official said some parole officers, especially in cities, have caseloads of 40 or more instead of the recommended 18, and as a result, they are unable to do all of the crucial collateral checks in the community, such as talking to employers, landlords, neighbours and other family members.
Police officers have also complained that when parole violators are apprehended, they are often immediately re-released back on parole. Officer Greg Sullivan, who is part of a team that tracks down parole violators, criticized the CSC, stating that "It gets really frustrating especially when you see violent offenders who are out several times over and we've gone after them two and three times in an eight- month period."
Incarceration
Incarceration is the detention of a person in prison, typically as punishment for a crime .People are most commonly incarcerated upon suspicion or conviction of committing a crime, and different jurisdictions have differing laws governing the function of incarceration within a larger system of...
and rehabilitation
Rehabilitation (penology)
Rehabilitation means; To restore to useful life, as through therapy and education or To restore to good condition, operation, or capacity....
of convicted criminal
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
offenders sentenced to two years or more. The system has its headquarters in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
.
The Correctional Service of Canada came into being on December 21, 1978, when Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
signed authorization for the newly commissioned agency and presented it with its Armorial Bearings.
The Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada is recommended for appointment by the Prime Minister and approved by an Order in Council. This appointed position reports directly to the Minister of Public Safety Canada and is accountable to the public via the Parliament
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
.
The current Commissioner of Corrections is Don Head, who has held this post since June 27, 2008. Head previously served as Senior Deputy Commissioner from 2002 until June 2008.
Early years
Following the development of the penitentiaryPrison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
by the Philadelphia Quakers
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
in the 1780s, the concept of penitence—isolation, work and religious contemplation—influenced the design and operation of prisons, not only in North America, but also in Europe, South America and Asia. The "Auburn System
Auburn system
The Auburn system is a penal method of the 19th century in which persons worked during the day in groups and were kept in solitary confinement at night, with enforced silence at all times...
" developed at the Auburn Penitentiary in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
adopted the penitentiary sentence of the Philadelphia model, but added prisoners' labour, in the belief that work and training would assist in reforming criminals. The Kingston Penitentiary
Kingston Penitentiary
Kingston Penitentiary is a maximum security prison located in Kingston, Ontario between King Street West and Lake Ontario....
, based on the Auburn System, was built in 1835. Initially operated as a provincial jail, the penitentiary came under federal jurisdiction following the passage of the British North America Act in 1867.
In 1868, the first Penitentiary Act brought prisons in Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
and Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, along with Kingston, under federal jurisdiction. Over the next twelve years, the federal government built Saint-Vincent-de-Paul Penitentiary in Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, Quebec
Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, Quebec
Saint-Vincent-de-Paul is a neighbourhood in the eastern part of Laval, Quebec, Canada. Saint-Vincent-de-Paul was a town before August 6, 1965. Saint-Vincent-de-Paul is named after Vincent de Paul.- Geography :...
(1873), Manitoba Penitentiary
Stony Mountain Institution
Stony Mountain Institution is a federal medium-security facility located in Stony Mountain, Manitoba, about from Winnipeg. It opened in 1877 and can accommodate up to 570 inmates.- History :...
, in Stoney Mountain, Manitoba (1877), British Columbia Penitentiary, in New Westminster, British Columbia (1878) and Dorchester Penitentiary
Dorchester Penitentiary
The Dorchester Penitentiary is a Canadian federal corrections facility located in the village of Dorchester, New Brunswick....
, in Dorchester, New Brunswick (1880).
The regime of these prisons included productive labour during the day, solitary confinement during leisure hours and the rule of silence at all times. While there was no parole, prisoners with good conduct could have three days per month remitted from their sentence.
Reformation and rehabilitation
The Royal Commission to Investigate the Penal System of Canada (the Archambault Commission) was formed in response to a series of riots and strikes in the 1930s. The Archambault reportArchambault report
The Archambault Report was an influential study of the penitentiary system in Canada, published in 1938. The report, the full title of which was the Royal Commission Report on Penal Reform in Canada, was the product of four years of study by the Royal Commission, chaired by Mr. Justice Joseph...
, published in 1938, proposed sweeping changes for Canadian penitentiaries, with emphasis on crime prevention and the rehabilitation of prisoners. The Commission recommended a complete revision of penitentiary regulations to provide "strict but humane discipline and the reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners." While the commission's recommendations were not immediately implemented due to the advent of World War II, much of the report's philosophy remains influential.
After the war, prison populations rose, causing overcrowding and prison disturbances. This led to the creation of the Fauteux Committee in 1953. The Committee saw prisons not merely as fulfilling a custodial role, but also to provide programs that would promote "worthwhile and creative activity" and address the basic behaviour, attitudes and patterns of inmates. This meant prisons had to change to support such programs and provide opportunities for vocational training, pre-release and after-care programs. The Fauteux Report recommended hiring more, and better-trained, personnel, including those with professional qualifications in social work, psychology, psychiatry, criminology and law. An important legacy of the Committee was the creation of the National Parole Board in 1959 and the development of a system of parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
to replace the former ticket of leave
Ticket of leave
A ticket of leave was a document of parole issued to convicts who had shown they could now be trusted with some freedoms. Originally the ticket was issued in Britain and later adopted by the United States, Canada and Ireland.-Australian convicts:...
system. While stating that parole was not to be a reduction, or undermining, of the sentence, the committee emphasized its strong support for parole:
"'Parole is a well-recognized procedure which is designed to be a logical step in the reformation and rehabilitation of a person who has been convicted of an offence and, as a result, is undergoing imprisonment... It is a transitional step between close confinement in an institution and absolute freedom in society" (Fauteux 1956, 51).'"
The Penitentiary Act was amended in 1961 and a plan enacted to build ten new penitentiaries across Canada to implement the Fauteaux Committee’s recommendations.
Formation of the Correctional Service of Canada
The Correctional Service of Canada was established in 1979, after the merger of the Canadian Penitentiary Service with the National Parole Service, in 1976.Commissioners
, the current Commissioner of Corrections is Don HeadDon Head (public servant)
Don Head is a Canadian career public servant and the current Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada , since June 27, 2008.Head has worked mostly in the federal public service and began his career in 1978 as a correctional officer in CSC's Pacific Region...
. (June 27, 2008-current)
Former Commissioners
- Keith Coulter (2005–2008)
- Lucie McClung (2000–2005)
- Ole Ingstrup (1996–2000)
- John Edwards (1993–1996)
- Ole Ingstrup (1988–1992)
- Rhéal J. Leblanc (1985–1988)
- Don Yeomans (1977–1985)
Mission statement
"The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), as part of the criminal justice system and respecting the rule of law, contributes to public safety by actively encouraging and assisting offenders to become law-abiding citizens, while exercising reasonable, safe, secure and humane control."Legislative jurisdiction
The operation of the CSC is governed by federal statute under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and Corrections and Conditional Release Regulations. In addition, the statute provides for discretion under the directive of the Commissioner. However, all Commissioner's Directives must remain within the parameters of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.The Correctional Service of Canada only has jurisdiction over offenders in Canada for court-imposed sentences 24 months (two years) or greater.
International treaties applying to CSC operations
- United Nations CharterUnited Nations CharterThe Charter of the United Nations is the foundational treaty of the international organization called the United Nations. It was signed at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center in San Francisco, United States, on 26 June 1945, by 50 of the 51 original member countries...
- Universal Declaration of Human RightsUniversal Declaration of Human RightsThe Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled...
- Convention on the Rights of the ChildConvention on the Rights of the ChildThe United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a human rights treaty setting out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children...
- International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsInternational Covenant on Civil and Political RightsThe International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966, and in force from March 23, 1976...
- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
- Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
- Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of PrisonersStandard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of PrisonersThe Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners were adopted on 30 August 1955 by the United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, held at Geneva, and approved by the Economic and Social Council in resolutions of 31 July 1957 and 13 May 1977.Although...
Court-imposed sentencing
There are two types of court-imposed sentences:- a determinate sentence;
- an indeterminate sentence.
A determinate sentence is a sentence with a completion date (example five years, seven months), called a "Warrant Expiry". This date is court imposed, at which time the Correctional Service of Canada no longer has jurisdiction over the offender.
An indeterminate sentence is a sentence that is commonly referred to as a "life sentence". The Correctional Service of Canada has jurisdiction over the offender until the offender passes away. Although the court does impose a minimum number of years before the offender can apply to the Parole Board of Canada for conditional release. Thus, a court-imposed sentence of life with no parole for twenty-five years would indicate that the offender would be incarcerated for a minimum of twenty five years prior to consideration for a potential conditional release to the community, under the supervision of a community parole officer.
As of 2006 the incarceration rate in Canada was 107 per 100,000 people; one seventh that of the United States'.
Security classification of offenders
There are three levels of security within the Correctional Service of Canada. They include maximum, medium, and minimum. Case management is completed by institutional parole officers (POs) within institutions, and by community parole officers in the community. The Parole Board of Canada has the complete responsibility in making liberty decisions at the point in the court-imposed sentence where an offender is allowed to live in the community on conditional release.Once an offender is sentenced by a court to a sentence of two (2) years or more the offender comes under the jurisdiction of the Correctional Service of Canada. An institutional parole officer completes a comprehensive assessment of the offender's criminality and formulates an "offender security classification report" and a "correctional plan". It is this correctional plan that the offender will be assessed against for the entire court-imposed sentence. For offenders who receive a life sentence, there is a mandatory two year residency at a maximum security institution, regardless of the offender's behaviour.
Employees
Most personnel are plain clothed including, Parole Officers, Program Facilitators, Psychologists, Staff Training Officers, Assessment and Intervention Managers, Security Intelligence Officers, Assistant/Deputy Wardens, and the Institutional Head, called the "Warden". Each Region of Canada has a "Deputy Commissioner" who reports directly to the Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada, who is based in the National Capital RegionNational Capital Region (Canada)
The National Capital Region, also referred to as Canada's Capital Region, is an official federal designation for the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Ontario, the neighbouring city of Gatineau, Quebec, and surrounding urban and rural communities....
(Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
).
Employees working at federal penitentiaries are designated as federal Peace Officer
Peace officer
A law enforcement officer , in North America, is any public-sector employee or agent whose duties involve the enforcement of laws. The phrase can include police officers, prison officers, customs officers, immigration officers, bailiffs, probation officers, parole officers, auxiliary officers, and...
s under Section 10 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Acthttp://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C-44.6/230765.html#rid-230776.
Uniformed officers
A Correctional Officer is an employee of the Public Service of Canada. All CSC Correctional Officers are uniformed and are designated as federal Peace OfficerPeace officer
A law enforcement officer , in North America, is any public-sector employee or agent whose duties involve the enforcement of laws. The phrase can include police officers, prison officers, customs officers, immigration officers, bailiffs, probation officers, parole officers, auxiliary officers, and...
s under Section 10 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Acthttp://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C-44.6/230765.html#rid-230776.
The rank structure in CSC begins at entry as a Correctional Officer I, otherwise known as COI. These officers are responsible for security functions at the institution including patrol, security posts, and escorts.
A Correctional Officer II, or COII, is typically assigned to positions requiring a more senior officer including living units, communications, or visits. Correctional Officers who are specifically designated for Federally Sentenced Women (FSW) are called Primary Workers and have an entry rank
Police rank
- Australia :Generally, all police forces of Australia follow this rank structure with some individual state police forces have ranks differing slightly.Insignia of rank displayed on epaulette in italics and brackets...
of COII.
Once officers move into a supervisory role, which starts at Staff Training Facilitator, the uniform shirt colour is changed from navy blue to light blue.
The Correctional Manager, or CM, is the Institutional Supervisor, and historically had been referred to as the "Keeper of the Keys", or in short the "Keeper". All rank insignia
Insignia
Insignia or insigne pl -nia or -nias : a symbol or token of personal power, status or office, or of an official body of government or jurisdiction...
is worn as shoulder epaulettes attached to the shoulder straps of the uniform as either the word "RECRUIT" for officer recruits currently in training, or as 1, 2, 3, or 4 gold bars. Senior rank (worn as epaulettes and typically only present on dress uniforms) are as follows:
Commissioner: Crown, above a crossed key and torch, with three 'towers' displayed below.
Asst. Commissioner: Same as above, but with two towers.
Regional Deputy Commissioner: Same as above, but with one tower.
Uniformed Correctional Officers employed by CSC are unionized with and supported by the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO). Grievances filed in relation to potential breaches of the union contract have three appeals. The first level grievance is within the institution, the second level at the regional headquarters, and the third being the national headquarters. If resolution with the management, at the lowest level does not transpire, then some issues may be sent forward to the Public Service Labour Relations Board. The decision of the Board is then legally enforcable and binding on both parties, as it is with all other government departments.
Dress uniforms echo the same rank as displayed above. Each facility has a Ceremonial Unit that represent the Service at formal events across Canada and internationally. Examples of recent events include local and ceremonial parades, funerals, recruit graduations, and national and international commemoration services.
The Ceremonial Unit consists of a Guard of Honour, the CSC Community Pipes and Drums Band and a Ceremonial Guard. Through their activities, the Unit is a proud public face for the Service’s Correctional Officers, Parole Officers, and staff, who play an important role in keeping communities safe for Canadians.
Ceremonial rank structure is as follows, typically worn as epaulettes on the dress uniform shirt and tunic.
National Ceremonial Commander: Three pips centered with crossed key and torch.
National Sergeant Major: Rank positioned on the right sleeve depicting Canada’s Coat of Arms a crossed key and torch encircled by a laurel wreath. Crimson shoulder sash to be worn under strap, over right shoulder and across to left hip.
Regional Ceremonial Commander: Three pips.
Regional Sergeant Major: Rank positioned on the right sleeve depicting the Tudor Crown, a crossed key and torch, encircled by a laurel wreath. Crimson sash worn over the right shoulder and positioned under the right epaulette and right tunic lapel.
Institutional Squad Leader: Two pips.
Institutional Squad (2 i/c): One pip.
Institutional Emergency Response Team
Similar to those of Canadian police forces including the Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceRoyal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
, the CSC has formed Emergency Response Teams to support existing security functions. The IERT will respond to situations that require or may require a use of force
Use of force
The term use of force describes a right of an individual or authority to settle conflicts or prevent certain actions by applying measures to either: a) dissuade another party from a particular course of action, or b) physically intervene to stop them...
or a special tactical response. These teams can be established across an entire region or within a single institution, depending on the size.
See also Correctional Emergency Response Team
Correctional Emergency Response Team
A Correctional Emergency Response Team , Special Emergency Response Team for Correction , or Special Operation Response Team is a team of highly trained corrections officers in the United States tasked with responding to incidents, riots, cell extractions, mass searches, or disturbances in...
CSC institutions
Atlantic- Nova Institution for WomenNova Institution for WomenNova Institution is a Canadian federal prison for women in Truro, Nova Scotia. The facility, which handles different levels of offenders, can accommodate up to 70 inmates...
- Atlantic InstitutionAtlantic InstitutionThe Atlantic Institution is a Canadian federal corrections facility located in the village of Renous, New Brunswick.It was opened in 1987 on the north bank of the Southwest Miramichi River; the property was formerly used as an ammunition depot by the Canadian Forces.Renous was selected as the site...
- Dorchester PenitentiaryDorchester PenitentiaryThe Dorchester Penitentiary is a Canadian federal corrections facility located in the village of Dorchester, New Brunswick....
- Springhill InstitutionSpringhill InstitutionThe Springhill Institution is a Canadian federal corrections facility located in the town of Springhill, Nova Scotia.It was opened on 15 October 1967 on the southwestern edge of the former coal mining town on the edge of the Cobequid Hills; occupying 167 hectares of land on a plateau overlooking...
- Westmorland Institution
Quebec
- Archambault Institution
- Cowansville Institution
- Donnacona Institution
- Drummond Institution
- Federal Training Centre
- Joliette Institution
- La Macaza Institution
- Leclerc Institution
- Montée St.-François Institution
- Port-Cartier Institution
- Regional Reception Centre
- Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines InstitutionSpecial Handling UnitThe Special Handling Unit is Canada's highest security prison. It is co-located with the Ste-Anne-des-Plaines Institution and the Regional Reception Centre, at the Correctional Service of Canada complex at Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, Quebec . As of 2008, there were 90 prisoners at the SHU...
Ontario
- Grand Valley Institution for WomenGrand Valley Institution for WomenGrand Valley Institution for Women is in a women's federal prison in Kitchener, Ontario, served by the Government of Canada.In Canada, women sentenced to prison terms of greater than two years serve their time in a federal institution operated by the Correctional Service of Canada...
- Bath Institution
- Beaver Creek Institution
- Collins Bay Institution
- Fenbrook InstitutionFenbrook InstitutionThe Fenbrook Institution is a medium security prison located north of Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada.The Canadian government announced plans to build the prison in 1992. A contract for the building's construction was awarded in 1996, and the facility opened in 1998...
- Frontenac Institution
- Joyceville Institution
- Kingston PenitentiaryKingston PenitentiaryKingston Penitentiary is a maximum security prison located in Kingston, Ontario between King Street West and Lake Ontario....
- Millhaven InstitutionMillhaven InstitutionMillhaven Institution is a maximum security prison located in Bath, Ontario. Approximately 400 inmates are incarcerated at Millhaven. Opened in 1971, Millhaven was originally built to replace the area's other maximum security prison . A riot at Kingston Penitentiary forced Millhaven to open...
- Pittsburgh Institution
- Regional Treatment Centre
- Warkworth InstitutionWarkworth InstitutionThe Warkworth Institution is a medium-security prison facility located in the municipality of Trent Hills, Ontario, between the communities of Meyersburg and Warkworth. The prison is the largest federal correctional institution in Canada with a population of approximately 580 housed in five units...
Prairies
- Edmonton Institution for Women
- Bowden Institution
- Drumheller InstitutionDrumheller InstitutionThe Drumheller Institution is a medium-security prison operated in Drumheller, Alberta by the Correctional Service of Canada. It was opened in 1967, and also includes a 72-bed minimum-security facility. As of 6 April, 2004, the medium security section had a rated capacity of 598.- References :*...
- Edmonton InstitutionEdmonton InstitutionThe Edmonton Institution is a maximum security facility north of Edmonton. It is run and operated by Correctional Service of Canada.- Riots :There have been 5 riots since the prison opened.*January 24, 1986*August 31, 1998*November 13, 2001...
- Grande Cache Institution
- Grierson CentreGrierson CentreThe Grierson Centre is a minimum security institution in Downtown Edmonton. It is run and operated by Correctional Service of Canada.The site of the Grierson Centre was originally the North West Mounted Police's headquarters in Edmonton. One of the buildings in the Grierson Centre, former RCMP...
- Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge
- Pê Sâkâstêw
- Regional Psychiatric Centre
- Riverbend Institution
- Rockwood InstitutionRockwood InstitutionRockwood Institution is a federal minimum-security facility located in Stony Mountain, Manitoba, about 11 mi from Winnipeg. It opened in 1962 and can accommodate up to 167 inmates.-History:...
- Stony Mountain InstitutionStony Mountain InstitutionStony Mountain Institution is a federal medium-security facility located in Stony Mountain, Manitoba, about from Winnipeg. It opened in 1877 and can accommodate up to 570 inmates.- History :...
- Saskatchewan Federal PenitentiarySaskatchewan Federal PenitentiaryThe Saskatchewan Federal Penitentiary is classified as a Medium Security Facility with Maximum Security areas. It is located on a walled 20-acre parcel of land one kilometre west of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada...
Pacific
- Fraser Valley Institution for Women
- Ferndale InstitutionFerndale InstitutionFerndale Institution is a minimum-security federal correctional facility located in Mission, British Columbia, in the central Fraser Valley, about 80 kilometres east of Vancouver...
- Kent InstitutionKent InstitutionKent Institution is a Correctional Service of Canada facility located in Kent, British Columbia. Opened in 1979, Kent is the only maximum security federal penitentiary in the CSC's Pacific region, which includes the province of British Columbia and the Yukon territory. The majority of prisoners...
- Kwìkwèxwelhp Healing Lodge
- Matsqui InstitutionMatsqui InstitutionMatsqui Institution is a federal medium-security prison facility in Abbotsford, British Columbia, about 70 kilometres east of Vancouver. The Institution is operated by the Correctional Service of Canada and was opened in 1966. Accommodations for the general population are provided in a three-story...
- Mission InstitutionMission InstitutionMission Institution is a medium security federal institution within the Correctional Service of Canada and is located in Mission, British Columbia. As of March 2007, it currently houses 259 inmates. Mission Institution is broken up into 5 living units, with an additional 10 cell segregation unit...
- Mountain InstitutionMountain InstitutionMountain Institution is a medium security federal penitentiary operated by the Correctional Service of Canada . It is located in the town of Agassiz, British Columbia, approximately 115 kilometres east of Vancouver.-History:...
- Pacific Institution/Regional Treatment Center/Regional Reception and Assessment Center(RRAC)
- William Head InstitutionWilliam Head InstitutionWilliam Head Institution is a minimum-security federal correctional institution for men located in Metchosin, British Columbia, about 25 kilometres west of Victoria on the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island. The Institution opened in 1959 and can house 140 inmates. Inmates live in four groups of...
Among the institutions are "healing lodges" for Aboriginal offenders.
Citizens' Advisory Committees
Under section 7 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Regulations and further by Commissioner's Directives CD 023, each institution and parole office must established a Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC) who are mandated to "contribute to the public safety by actively interacting with staff of the Correctional Service of Canada, the public and offenders, providing impartial advice and recommendations, thereby contributing to the quality of the correctional process."Each institution and parole office forms the 'local committee' for which the CSC consult with on matters regarding correctional operations, programs, policies, and plans. They in turn participates in the regional committee (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Prairies and Pacific) to coordinate initiatives for the region. Finally, the National Executive Committee is made up of the five CAC Regional Chairpersons as well as by the National Chairperson who are responsible for liaison between the committees and the CSC HQ, monitor and review all policies or actions of the CSC at the local, regional and national levels and adopts cohesive stragety for all committees.
All CAC members have, by law, the authority to have reasonable access to every part of the institution/parole office they are attached to, talk with all the staff and offenders or parolee within the organization and access to hearings (if the offender consents). These authorities are given to members once they have their application approved and security clearance approved by CSC National Headquarters.
Year of the Veteran participation
In 2005, the Department of Veterans AffairsVeterans Affairs Canada
The Department of Veterans Affairs , also referred to as Veterans Affairs Canada , is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for pensions/benefits and services for war veterans, retired personnel of the Canadian Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, their families,...
had the year designated the Year of the Veteran. At Kent Maximum Security Institution Officer Shane Firlotte submitted a proposal for all Correctional Officers who were also veterans, to be able to wear the Year of the Veteran pin on their uniforms. The Commissioner of Corrections, with the support of the Chief of the Defence Staff
Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)
The Chief of the Defence Staff is the second most senior member of the Canadian Forces, and heads the Armed Forces Council, having primary responsibility for command, control, and administration of the forces, as well as military strategy, plans, and requirements...
, authorized the wearing of the pin, via a national memorandum to all staff, on the left breast pocket until December 31, 2005. This being in recognition of veterans continued service to the Public Service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
of Canada.
Criticism and controversy
In 2003, the CSC was criticized for its policies for reportedly releasing certain prisoners on a quota system. Scott Newark, a former prosecutor and executive director of the Canadian Police AssociationCanadian Police Association
The Canadian Police Association is an organization of Canadian police officers.In 2003, the original "Canadian Police Association" was merged with the National Association of Professional Police to form the Canadian Professional Police Association....
, who is now special counsel to the Ontario Attorney General's Office for Victims of Crime, stated that the Correctional Service of Canada is out of control and that "I think Canadians have good reason to be outraged."
Newmark stated that there is a big push in Correctional Services to get more offenders out of penitentiaries and onto the street in what is called "The Reintegration Project." Although this policy is cheaper than keeping convicts imprisoned, Newark's office contends convicts are being shoved out the door to meet a release quota. Newark stated that he had obtained documents to prove this, including memos, minutes, and confidential Corrections correspondence, and an internal memorandum talk about setting a "goal of a 50/50 split of offenders between institutions and the community."
Lawrence MacAulay
Lawrence MacAulay
Lawrence A. MacAulay, PC is a Canadian politician.MacAulay is a current member of the Liberal Party of Canada in the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Cardigan, Prince Edward Island since 1988. MacAulay is a former farmer...
, who was the Solicitor General in charge of the CSC when the documents were written, denied that there were any quotas, stating that: "There are no quotas. There never was... If anybody has the idea of a quota, they forgot to check with the minister." However, shortly after this interview, MacAulay resigned and Wayne Easter
Wayne Easter
Arnold Wayne Easter, PC, MP is a Canadian politician.-Before politics:Born in North Wiltshire, Prince Edward Island the son of A. Leith Easter and Hope MacLeod, he was educated at the Charlottetown Rural High School and the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. In 1970, he married Helen Arleighn...
took over as solicitor general.
An internal Corrections audit reported that parole officers are overwhelmed. A senior union official said some parole officers, especially in cities, have caseloads of 40 or more instead of the recommended 18, and as a result, they are unable to do all of the crucial collateral checks in the community, such as talking to employers, landlords, neighbours and other family members.
Police officers have also complained that when parole violators are apprehended, they are often immediately re-released back on parole. Officer Greg Sullivan, who is part of a team that tracks down parole violators, criticized the CSC, stating that "It gets really frustrating especially when you see violent offenders who are out several times over and we've gone after them two and three times in an eight- month period."
See also
- Provincial correctional services in CanadaProvincial correctional services in CanadaCorrectional services are operated by both the federal and provincial governments. Offenders who receive sentences of less than two years or who receive community sentences such as fines, community service work or probation are under provincial jurisdiction. Offenders who receive prison sentences...