Commissioner's directive 566: Framework for safe and effective correctional environments

Applies to all Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) staff who directly interact with offenders in institutions, including Community Correctional Centres, and in the community

Responsibilities

1. The Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs, will:
   1. ensure the policy framework for the creation of safe and effective correctional environments, including promoting the use of dynamic security practices for the prevention of security incidents is in place
   2. conduct reviews and updates on security policies, address issues brought forward by the regions, operational units, Boards of Investigation and/or partners (e.g. Office of the Correctional Investigator), and develop security policies as required.
2. The Regional Deputy Commissioner will ensure:
   1. security policies and procedures (including the application of dynamic security practices to security operations) are communicated to staff in operational units
   2. reviews of operational policies and procedures, and dynamic security practices, are conducted when issues or deficiencies with regard to these policies and procedures or their implementation are brought forward in operational units
   3. issues arising from the implementation of security policies and procedures, or dynamic security practices, are reported in a timely manner to the Director General, Security.
3. The Director General, Security, will:
   1. ensure security policies and procedures are knowledge and research-based and emphasize dynamic security practices
   2. provide direction and support to regions in relation to policy, safety and security issues
   3. inform the Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs, of any issues or deficiencies arising from the implementation of security policies and procedures, or dynamic security practices.
4. The Institutional Head/District Director will ensure:
   1. security policies and procedures are implemented
   2. issues are managed as they arise in such a way as to promote a safe and effective correctional environment
   3. security procedures and practices executed in support of this directive apply dynamic security and supervision
   4. staff receive required training/orientation to ensure the safety and security of the operational unit, and actively practice dynamic security and supervision
   5. a process is in place for monitoring the implementation of security policies and procedures, and dynamic security practices, and for reporting any issues or deficiencies arising from these policies and procedures or their implementation to the Regional Deputy Commissioner.
5. The Assistant Warden, Operations/Manager, Operations/Area Director will:
   1. provide oversight and identify trends and deficiencies related to security policies and procedures, including dynamic security practices, and implement appropriate solutions
   2. provide Correctional Managers/Managers, Community Correctional Centre, support and guidance in relation to their role in the implementation of security policies and procedures, and reinforce the use of dynamic security.
6. The Correctional Manager will:
   1. ensure staff under their authority are deployed pursuant to CD 004 - National Standards for the Deployment of Correctional Officers
   2. ensure Correctional Officers and Primary Workers have the necessary training, skills, tools and equipment to assist them in the performance of their duties
   3. support and direct Correctional Officers and Primary Workers in the performance of their duties and the application of dynamic security practices
   4. establish and maintain a quality control process for all documents completed by Correctional Officers and Primary Workers.
7. The Manager, Community Correctional Centre, will promote and encourage dynamic security practices among all staff who interact with offenders regularly.
8. All staff will ensure that the appropriate intervention is undertaken to respond to any situation that could jeopardize the safety of the operational unit. As well, they will immediately communicate information about the situation to the appropriate designated manager and properly document it in the unit log book, Statement/Observation Report and/or Casework Record (CSC/SCC 0985).

Procedures

Dynamic Security Practices

9. A safe and effective correctional environment is created through the use of dynamic security, combined with static operational procedures, and is a function of all staff who interact directly with offenders.
10. Dynamic security practices, along with operational procedures defined within the 566 series of the Commissioner’s Directives, will reflect the degree of control required at each security level and the associated behavioural norms pursuant to CD 706 - Classification of Institutions.
11. All staff who directly interact with offenders will apply the following dynamic security practices while carrying out their responsibilities and/or operational procedures:
    1. act in a professional, ethical and fair manner towards offenders, and treat them with respect and dignity
    2. foster positive, regular, consistent and meaningful interactions with offenders by building a rapport and trust through active, straightforward and individualized communication with them, while maintaining appropriate boundaries
    3. continually enhance their knowledge of offenders’ activities and behaviours (both positive and negative) through direct observation and interactions with offenders, and consider factors that affect offenders’ needs, behaviours and/or interactions (e.g. Indigenous social history, ethnocultural and gender identity or expression, as well as learning difficulties, low cognitive functioning, and physical and mental health status or concerns)
    4. maintain a consistent approach to addressing inappropriate and negative behaviours through direct and constructive feedback, while encouraging offenders’ positive behaviours
    5. motivate offenders to engage in pro-social, responsible behaviours by being positive role models, and support and encourage offenders’ commitment to their Correctional Plan
    6. provide a direct presence in all offender-occupied locations (where reasonably possible), and engage in proactive interventions with offenders to minimize threats and/or conflicts
    7. be observant of the actions/movements of individual offenders and/or groups of offenders and subtle changes in behaviour (e.g. exhibiting signs of physical and mental distress and/or behaviours that are unusual for the offender)
    8. report and document dynamic security interactions and observations in the unit log book, Statement/Observation Report and/or Casework Record (CSC/SCC 0985), and share dynamic security information related to security, case management, health, intelligence, etc. with the relevant staff
    9. share with case management and/or security intelligence staff new information collected as part of dynamic security prior to an offender’s release
    10. ensure, pursuant to CD 715 - Community Supervision Framework, that there is the continuity of dynamic security of offenders under community supervision and that community staff maintain regular contact with offenders, as well as collateral contacts and police as required. All interactions will be documented and any safety or other concerns will be immediately shared with a supervisor.

Policy and Procedural Framework for Safe and Effective Correctional Environments

12. The Framework for Safe and Effective Correctional Environments supports effective correctional operations and interventions through dynamic security practices, which contributes to the safety of the public, staff and offenders.
13. The Framework for Safe and Effective Correctional Environments is comprised of the following Commissioner’s Directives:
    1. CD 566-1 - Control of Entry to and Exit from Institutions - to provide direction on entry to, movement within, and exit from institutions of authorized persons and items
    2. CD 566-2 - Control of Vehicle Entry to and Exit from Institutions - to provide direction on controlling vehicle entry to, movement within, and exit from the institution, and for monitoring goods and individuals coming in and out of the institution.
    3. CD 566-3 - Inmate Movement - to provide direction on controlling and monitoring inmate movement
    4. CD 566-4 - Counts and Security Patrols - to monitor the whereabouts and well-being of inmates, while promoting positive informal interactions between staff and inmates
    5. CD 566-5 - Non-Security Escorts - to establish procedures for non-security escorts of inmates
    6. CD 566-6 - Security Escorts - to establish procedures for security escorts of inmates
    7. CD 566-7 - Searching of Offenders - to provide direction related to the searching of offenders to prevent the introduction and possession of contraband and unauthorized items
    8. CD 566-8 - Searching of Staff and Visitors - to establish procedures to prevent entry of contraband into the institution
    9. CD 566-9 - Searching of Cells/Rooms, Vehicles and Other Areas - to provide direction related to the searching of cells/rooms, vehicles, and other areas of the institution to prevent the introduction, possession and exchange of contraband and unauthorized items
    10. CD 566-10 - Urinalysis Testing - to establish the procedures for the collection, storage, shipment, and testing of urine samples, and identify and deter the use of illicit substances within institutions and among the offender population
    11. CD 566-11 - Electronic Monitoring of Offenders - to provide direction for the management of the electronic monitoring of offenders
    12. CD 566-12 - Personal Property of Offenders - to establish procedures for the authorization, possession, control and protection of offender property
    13. CD 566-13 -Detector Dog Program - to prevent the introduction, possession and exchange of contraband into CSC facilities with the assistance of a certified detector dog team
    14. CD 566-15 - Closed Circuit Television Systems - to establish and define the requirements and procedures for the use of closed circuit television systems to help safeguard the safety and security of all individuals and government assets.

Commissioner,

Original signed by:

Anne Kelly

Annex A - Cross-References and Definitions

• CD 001 - Mission, Values and Ethics Framework of the Correctional Service of Canada
• CD 004 - National Standards for the Deployment of Correctional Officers
• CD 566-1 - Control of Entry to and Exit from Institutions
• CD 566-2 - Control of Vehicle Entry to and Exit from Institutions
• CD 566-3 - Inmate Movement
• CD 566-4 - Counts and Security Patrols
• CD 566-5 - Non-Security Escorts
• CD 566-6 - Security Escorts
• CD 566-7 - Searching of Offenders
• CD 566-8 - Searching of Staff and Visitors
• CD 566-9 - Searching of Cells/Rooms, Vehicles and Other Areas
• CD 566-10 - Urinalysis Testing
• CD 566-11 - Electronic Monitoring of Offenders
• CD 566-12 - Personal Property of Offenders
• CD 566-13 - Detector Dog Program
• CD 566-15 - Closed Circuit Television Systems
• CD 567 - Management of Incidents
• CD 568-2 - Recording and Sharing of Security Information and Intelligence
• CD 577 - Staff Protocol in Women Offender Institutions
• CD 701 - Information Sharing
• CD 702 - Indigenous Offenders
• CD 706 - Classification of Institutions
• CD 714 - Community Correctional Centre Standards
• CD 715 - Community Supervision Framework

Definitions

Behavioural norms: the expected behaviours of inmates at or within each security level. The degree to which individual behaviour compares to expectations indicates the need for intervention strategies.

Dynamic security: regular and consistent interactions with offenders and timely analysis of information and sharing through observations and communication as well as proactive practices that mitigate security incidents. Dynamic security is the action that contributes to the development of professional, positive relationships between staff and offenders, and is a key tool to assess an offender’s adjustment and stability.

Indigenous social history: the various circumstances that have affected the lives of most Indigenous people. Considering these circumstances may result in alternate options or solutions and applies only to Indigenous offenders (not to non-Indigenous offenders who choose to follow the Indigenous way of life). These circumstances include the following (note that this is not an exhaustive list):

• effects of the residential school system
• sixties scoop into the adoption system
• effects of the dislocation and dispossession of Inuit people
• family or community history of suicide
• family or community history of substance abuse
• family or community history of victimization
• family or community fragmentation
• level or lack of formal education
• level of connectivity with family/community
• experience in the child welfare system
• experience with poverty
• loss of or struggle with cultural/spiritual identity.

Staff: for the purpose of this Commissioner’s Directive, "staff" includes all CSC employees, as well as others such as contractors, who directly interact with offenders.