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Commissioner's Directive 710-2

Authorities

Purpose

To effectively manage institutional populations by transferring inmates to an environment consistent with their security requirements. This would include the movement of inmates within clustered and multi-level institutions

To facilitate inmate's participation in correctional programs and/or other interventions as identified in their Correctional Plan

Application

Applies to staff involved in the transfer as well as the movement of inmates within clustered and multi-level institutions

Contents


Commissioner's directive

Correctional Service Canada badge

Number: 710-2

In Effect: 2018-11-07

Related links

Responsibilities

  1. The Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs, may develop guidelines pertaining to specific aspects of inmate transfers as well as movements, which must be followed.
  2. The Institutional Head, or after working hours the Correctional Manager in charge, will sign all transfer warrants.
  3. The Senior Deputy Commissioner is the decision maker for a transfer to and from the Special Handling Unit.
  4. The Regional Deputy Commissioner of the receiving region is the decision maker for the transfer of an inmate to a section 81 facility for men.
  5. The Regional Deputy Commissioner or the Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Correctional Operations, of the receiving region is the decision maker for the inter-regional transfer of an inmate to a men’s institution, including the Treatment Centre or a CSC Indigenous Healing Lodge for men.
    1. In a case of a transfer to a Healing Lodge for men, the Regional Deputy Commissioner or the Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Correctional Operations, is responsible for ensuring that:
      1. the Executive Director/Institutional Head of the Healing Lodge for men is consulted, and
      2. a representative from the relevant Indigenous community is engaged in the recommendation.
  6. The Deputy Commissioner for Women is the decision maker for all transfers to women’s institutions, including women’s section 81 facilities and CSC’s Indigenous Healing Lodges for women.
    1. In a case of a transfer to a Healing Lodge for women, the Deputy Commissioner for Women is responsible for ensuring that :
      1. the Executive Director/Institutional Head of the Healing Lodge for women is consulted, and
      2. a representative from the relevant Indigenous community is engaged in the recommendation.
    2. In the case of a medium-security woman offender, the Deputy Commissioner for Women will ensure that a transfer decision to a multi-level healing lodge, which has a defined but not directly controlled perimeter, is made considering the following factors:
      1. the length of an inmate’s sentence
      2. the time remaining before an inmate is eligible for an unescorted temporary absence (UTA)
      3. the requirement for a long-term offender to be in the ‘preparation for release’ or ‘reintegration into the community’ phase of their Correctional Plan as per Annex G of CD 705-6.
  7. The Institutional Head of the sending institution is the decision maker for the intra-regional transfer of an inmate to a men’s facility.
  8. The Institutional Head will forward their recommendation to:
    1. the Regional Deputy Commissioner or Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Correctional Operations, for an inter-regional transfer to a men’s institution, including the Treatment Centre
    2. the Regional Deputy Commissioner or Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Correctional Operations, in consultation with the Executive Director of the Healing Lodge, for an inter-regional transfer to/from a CSC Indigenous Healing Lodge for men
    3. the Regional Deputy Commissioner for a transfer to a section 81 facility for men
    4. the Deputy Commissioner for Women, in consultation with the Executive Director of the Healing Lodge, for all transfers to a women’s institution/healing lodge.
  9. In addition, the Institutional Head will:
    1. ensure the admission of an inmate to a CSC Treatment Centre for Psychiatric Hospital Care or Intermediate Mental Health Care, or to Intermediate Mental Health Care within another institution, has been approved by the appropriate decision maker prior to the inmate’s transfer/movement in accordance with the Admission and Discharge Guidelines listed in the Integrated Mental Health Guidelines
    2. ensure that an inmate is provided with procedural fairness by complying with the processes in sections 12 and 13 of the CCRR
    3. pursuant to sections 12 to 14 of the CCRR, establish a process to monitor compliance with legislative timeframes for the appropriate inmate notification, sharing of information and decision making (refer to Annex B of GL 710-2-3 - Inmate Transfer Processes)
    4. ensure that the inmate's state of health and/or health care needs, as identified by a health care professional, are considered in all decisions relating to transfers, and that this information is documented in every inmate's final transfer decision pursuant to section 87 of the CCRA
    5. indicate in the inmate's final transfer decision whether there are incompatibles at the receiving site (or if there are no concerns), and make reference to whether the inmate provided a rebuttal and the consideration given to the rebuttal
    6. ensure there is a process to receive incoming transfer notifications and to notify the receiving site of all approved transfer decisions
    7. when there is new information regarding risk and needs that would impact the viability of the transfer, ensure there is a process to communicate with the receiving institution within 24 hours prior to effecting a transfer
    8. ensure that all reports due within 30 days after transfer from the sending institution are completed as required
    9. ensure processes outlined in CD 784 - Victim Engagement are respected
    10. ensure processes outlined in GL 710-2-4 - Movement Within Clustered/Multi-Level Institutions are respected.
    11. in the case of a medium-security offender, ensure that a transfer decision to a multi-level healing lodge, which has a defined but not directly controlled perimeter, is made considering the following factors:
      1. the length of an inmate’s sentence
      2. the time remaining before an inmate is eligible for an UTA
      3. the requirement for a long-term offender to be in the ‘preparation for release’ or ‘reintegration into the community’ phase of their Correctional Plan as per Annex G of CD 705-6.
    12. ensure that a representative from the relevant Indigenous community is engaged in the recommendation of a transfer to an Indigenous Healing Lodge.
  10. The Assistant Wardens, Interventions, of the sending and receiving institutions will ensure a process is in place for case conferences prior to an inmate transfer.
  11. The Assistant Warden, Management Services, of the sending institution will ensure that all files are transferred with the inmate, with the exception emergency transfers.
  12. The Manager, Assessment and Interventions/Correctional Manager as appropriate, will:
    1. ensure institutional Parole Officers and Primary Workers are familiar with the transfer process to section 81 facility as outlined in GL 710-2-1 - CCRA Section 81: Transfers
    2. be responsible for the quality control of submissions for transfer or movements within clustered/multi-level institutions
    3. provide a recommendation to the Institutional Head on the appropriateness of the transfer/ movement within clustered/multi-level institutions on cases they have identified as a concern and/or if deemed required, provide a recommendation on cases supported for a transfer/ movement within clustered/multi-level institutions.
  13. The Parole Officer/Primary Worker will:
    1. process inmate transfer applications within the timeframes prescribed in Annex B of GL 710-2-3 - Inmate Transfer Processes
    2. process movement submissions within clustered/multi-level institutions within the timeframes prescribed in Annex C of GL 710-2-4 - Movement Within Clustered/Multi-Level Institutions
    3. inform inmates of their right under section 81 of the CCRA and in accordance with GL 710-2-1 - CCRA Section 81: Transfers
    4. where applicable, update the Correctional Plan, including its healing components, in consultation with the inmate and complete the Assessment for Decision as outlined in Annex C of GL 710-2-3 - Inmate Transfer Processes, within 30 days of receiving the application
    5. where applicable, update the Correctional Plan, including its healing components, in consultation with the inmate and complete the Assessment for Decision as outlined in Annex B of GL 710-2-4 - Movement Within Clustered/Multi-Level Institutions
    6. ensure information is provided to the Victim Services Unit and consider relevant victim information pursuant to CD 784 - Victim Engagement.
  14. The Indigenous Liaison Officer will:
    1. support and promote inmate access to section 81 facilities
    2. provide input to the Parole Officer/Primary Worker regarding transfers between institutions or movements within clustered/multi-level institutions recommendations, as applicable, including the Elder’s comments.
  15. The Director, Population Management and Transfers, will ensure a process is in place for the planning, coordination and management (including financial resources) of inter-regional transfers by air.
  16. The Population Management and Transfers Division will:
    1. provide advice and coordinate all inter-regional transfers by air
    2. establish a tentative schedule of the inter-regional flights one year in advance
    3. establish the national inter-regional transfer list.
  17. The Regional Transfer Coordinator will:
    1. coordinate the inter-regional transfer processes
    2. establish the inter-regional transfer list for their respective region
    3. gather inmate information to support the inter-regional transfer operations (e.g. medical, psychological, security), when required.
  18. During all transits, the Correctional Manager/Officer in Charge of the transfer is responsible at all times for the security of the inmates, as well as the inmate’s personal effects and files.
  19. The decision maker will ensure that the rationale provided in all decision reports is clearly detailed, addresses any rebuttal submissions and is justified pursuant to section 27 of the CCRA, and CD 701 - Information Sharing.

Procedures

  1. Processes for the various types of transfers can be found in:
    1. GL 710-2-1 - CCRA Section 81: Transfers
    2. GL 710-2-2 - Inter-Regional Transfers by Air
    3. GL 710-2-3 - Inmate Transfer Processes
    4. GL 710-2-4 - Movement Within Clustered/Multi-Level Institutions
    5. CD 704 - International Transfers
    6. CD 708 - Special Handling Unit.
    7. CD 711 – Structured Intervention Units, GL 711-1 – Structured Intervention Unit (SIU) Transfer Procedures – SIU Sites, and GL 711-2 – Structured Intervention Unit (SIU) Transfer Procedures – Non-SIU Sites.
  2. If a transfer involves an inmate with a high profile offender flag, the procedures regarding high profile offenders will be followed pursuant to CD 701 - Information Sharing.

Commissioner,

 

Original signed by:

Anne Kelly

Annex A

Cross-References and Definitions

Cross-References

Definitions

Case conference: a formal meeting, consultation, or discussion about an inmate between two or more individuals.

Emergency transfer: the involuntary transfer of an inmate who cannot be managed effectively in the sending institution and who therefore poses an immediate safety risk to the public, staff and/or inmate(s) of the sending institution.

Movement: movement of an inmate to a same or different security level location within a clustered/multi-level institution.

Transfer (voluntary/involuntary): the transfer of an inmate when it is an acceptable risk to the public, staff or other inmates and this risk can be managed at another Institution or security level.

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