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Commissioner's Directive 004: National Deployment Standards Framework

Authorities

Purpose

  • To enhance the security of the public, staff, and inmates by implementing national standards for the efficient deployment of Correctional Officers, Primary Workers, and Correctional Managers at each level of security and type of facility
  • To achieve consistent levels of safety and security while ensuring effective dynamic interaction and interventions with inmates

Application

Applies to Correctional Officers, Primary Workers, and Correctional Managers


Commissioner's Directive

Correctional Service Canada badge

Number: 004

In Effect: 2026-03-20

Responsibilities

  1. The Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs, will ensure the National Deployment Standards Framework is implemented consistently across all institutions by:
    1. establishing and maintaining the Deployment Standards according to operational and organizational changes
    2. establishing and maintaining the Site Deployment Levels and National Generic Post Orders, and
    3. conducting reviews and updates of deployment policies, as well as addressing issues brought forward by the regions, operational units, Boards of Investigation, evaluations, audits, partners, and stakeholders.
  2. The Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services, will review and validate cost requirements for site deployment levels and changes.
  3. The Executive Committee will approve site deployment levels through the resource allocation process.
  4. The Director General, Security, will provide direction and support to regions and institutions regarding operational procedures related to the deployment of Correctional Officers and Primary Workers.
  5. The Regional Deputy Commissioner will:
    1. direct the timely and judicious implementation of the Deployment Standards at institutions within their respective region, and
    2. submit formal requests related to exceptions to the Deployment Standards to the Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs.
  6. The Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Integrated Services, will monitor compliance with the Deployment Standards.
  7. The Institutional Head will:
    1. apply the Deployment Standards in accordance with the Site Deployment Levels
    2. ensure Post Orders are developed for each security post using the National Generic Post Order Templates
    3. communicate changes made to deployment policies to staff, the local Occupational Health and Safety Committee, labour partners and other stakeholders, and
    4. approve and implement operational adjustment practices that comply with the circumstances described in the Deployment Standards and ensure the Operational Adjustment Plan is reviewed at least on an annual basis.

Procedures

Operational Adjustment

  1. The Operational Adjustment Plan will identify which security activities are subject to operational adjustment in accordance with the Deployment Standards. Consultation will occur with the local Occupational Health and Safety Committee on the initial Operational Adjustment Plan and any changes being considered. The form Operational Adjustment – Risk Assessment Tool (CSC/SCC 1295-01E) must be completed as identified in the Deployment Standards.

Threat Risk Assessment

  1. A Threat Risk Assessment will be completed in situations where a formal review of an operational environment is required. The team conducting this assessment will normally be comprised of a management representative, or their delegate, from the national, regional and institutional levels.

Site Deployment Levels

  1. Site Deployment Levels will be used to record the national resource indicators, which are recorded as full-time equivalent counts and salary budget allocations, for each institution. 

National Generic Post Orders

  1. The primary duties listed in the Deployment Standards are responsibilities for all institutions and will form the National Generic Post Orders. Each institution will carry out the primary duties according to its operational routine and distinctive elements. Secondary duties will be added based on operational needs and considerations, as required.

Job Hazard Analysis

  1. To comply with the Canada Labour Code, a Hazard Prevention Program must be established in consultation with the National Health and Safety Policy Committee comprised of management and employee representatives. The Job Hazard Analysis methodology will be used by CSC to identify, assess, control and monitor all hazards, including those identified for the various Correctional Officer posts and tasks.

Exceptions to Deployment Standards

  1. Requests for exceptions to the Deployment Standards are not to be submitted unless all available adjustments to operational routines have been considered and documented in a business case.

Review Process for Exceptions to Deployment Standards

  1. A review process is required to manage exceptions and subsequent variances to the Deployment Standards which can lead to a reassessment of Site Deployment Levels. Such circumstances include, but are not limited to:
    1. building or expansion of institutions
    2. infrastructure changes at an institution
    3. national policy changes related to the Deployment Standards or National Generic Post Orders
    4. health and safety matters, or
    5. change in the security classification of part or all of an institution.
  2. If it is determined that a request for exception is required, the Institutional Head or their delegate, not below the level of Correctional Manager, must formally submit a business case to the Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Integrated Services, to seek variances to the Deployment Standards. Formal requests must clearly identify whether the issue is related to administrative workload or due to a security risk at the operational unit, and contain documented measures attempted to address the issue(s) locally.
  3. Exception requests supported by the Regional Deputy Commissioner will be forwarded to the Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs, for review and approval. The Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs, will also forward the request to the Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services, for review and approval from a funding perspective, as applicable.

Enquiries

  1. Strategic Policy Division
    National Headquarters
    Email: NHQ.Policy-Politiques.AC@csc-scc.gc.ca

Commissioner,
Anne Kelly

Annex A

Cross-references and definitions

Cross-references

Definitions

Business case:

a study that provides justification for undertaking a project, a program or a portfolio. It includes an evaluation of the benefit, cost, and risk of alternative options as well as a rationale for the preferred solution.

Hazard Prevention Program:

a workplace-specific program designed to prevent work-related injuries and diseases. It is developed in response to the hazards at a particular workplace. For more information, refer to CSC’s Hazard Prevention Program / Job Hazard Analysis.

Job Hazard Analysis:

an assessment to reduce or eliminate hazards in the workplace by conducting a review to determine whether the workplace or specific duties present potential hazards and identify mitigation measures.

National Generic Post Orders:

documents that define the primary duties of Correctional Officers with regard to security activities at all institutions.

Occupational Health and Safety Committee:

a forum for bringing the internal responsibility system into practice. The Committee consists of employees and management representatives who meet on a regular basis to deal with health and safety issues.

Operational adjustment:

a situation whereby the complement of Correctional Officers identified in the Site Deployment Levels is reduced for a full or partial shift, and which involves the redeployment of officers from the adjusted post to another post. Operational adjustments and the subsequent changes to the staffing complement can occur as a result of a number of situations and for various durations.

Operational Adjustment Plan:

a document that specifies which posts are subject to operational adjustment and under which circumstances the adjustment can occur.

Site Deployment Levels:

a document of record, operationally referred to as “Site Deployment Sheet”, which itemizes and quantifies the approved application of the Deployment Standards for each institution.

Threat Risk Assessment:

an evaluation of factors that could pose a danger to the management of an offender, safety of others, or security of an operational unit in particular circumstances.

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Page details

2026-03-20