Guidelines 585-2: Contraband Interdiction and Management Framework

To facilitate reading in French, the masculine form is used without prejudice to gender, given the binary nature of the French language.

Number: 585-2
In Effect: 2026-03-16

Authorities

• Commissioner’s Directive (CD) 585: National Drugs and Substances Strategy
• Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA), sections 4(g), 17 and 18, 28 to 67, 76 to 78, 86 to 88 and 96
• Corrections and Conditional Release Regulations (CCRR), sections 9 to 69, 90, 102 and 155

Purpose

• To contribute to a safe institutional environment for staff, inmates, and visitors by reducing the presence of contraband and unauthorized items in Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) institutions
• To target the introduction, trafficking, financing, and distribution of contraband through the collection, analysis and sharing of intelligence information, and the application of dynamic and static security practices to guide operational and case management decision making, and ensure those involved are held accountable

Application

Applies to all CSC staff and contractors working with inmates in institutions, excluding Community Correctional Centres

On this page

• Responsibilities
• Procedures
  • Contraband Interdiction and Management Committee
  • Contraband Interdiction and Management Strategy
  • Individualized Risk Management
  • Risk Management Measures
• Enquiries
• Annex A - Cross-References and Definitions
• Annex B - Case Conference Casework Record Outline
• Annex C - Risk Management Measures

Responsibilities

1. The Deputy Director, Preventive Security and Intelligence, ensures ongoing collaboration and information sharing with the Director, Security Operations.
2. The Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Correctional Operations:
   1. provides oversight of contraband interdiction and management at the regional level
   2. informs the Director General, Security, of any concerns or best practices with regard to contraband in their region, and
   3. ensures institutional challenges and best practices related to contraband are discussed at the Regional Strategic Intelligence Committee or the Regional Management Committee.
3. The Regional Intelligence Coordinator:
   1. coordinates the development of contraband-related intelligence advisories (for example, unique seizures, concealment methods, introduction methods, and so on)
   2. ensures ongoing collaboration with Regional Administrator, Security, Security Intelligence Officers, and Security Intelligence Analysts within their respective region to discuss regional trends, challenges, best practices, individual inmate cases, and other matters related to the introduction, trafficking, financing, and distribution of contraband
   3. collaborates with law enforcement and other public safety partners and stakeholders to support contraband-related intelligence efforts and investigations, and
   4. provides guidance, as required, to institutions and law enforcement partners, in explaining the impacts and security risks to those involved in contraband introduction, trafficking, financing, or distribution, to support decision-making.
4. The National Intelligence Analyst:
   1. conducts environmental scans, and gathers and analyzes information to identify and monitor emerging trends and issues at the national, regional, and institutional levels with regard to the introduction, trafficking, financing, and distribution of contraband, and
   2. supports Security Intelligence Analysts, Regional Intelligence Coordinators, and law enforcement authorities in investigations related to contraband, including the identification of inmates involved in the introduction, trafficking, financing, or distribution of contraband at the inter-regional and national level.
5. The Security Intelligence Analyst:
   1. gathers and analyzes information and intelligence to produce intelligence advisories or other intelligence products
   2. conducts environmental scans, and gathers and analyzes information to identify and monitor emerging trends and issues at the institutional and regional levels with regard to the introduction, trafficking, financing, and distribution of contraband
   3. supports Security Intelligence Officers and law enforcement authorities in investigations related to contraband, including the identification of inmates involved in the introduction, trafficking, financing, or distribution of contraband, and
   4. ensures the dissemination and sharing of intelligence information and products with the institutions in their region, as well as with the Director, Intelligence, in the Security Branch.
6. The Institutional Head:
   1. ensures a Contraband Interdiction and Management Committee has been established and this committee develops a Contraband Interdiction and Management Strategy, in accordance with CD 585: National Drugs and Substances Strategy, these guidelines, and national direction with regard to the Contraband Interdiction and Management Strategy
   2. reviews and approves the Contraband Interdiction and Management Strategy
   3. ensures Standing Orders and Post Orders encompass contraband interdiction efforts that are consistent with the Contraband Interdiction and Management Strategy. Any changes to these orders involve consultation with the Contraband Interdiction and Management Committee
   4. ensures inmate accountability, and facilitates or delegates, where required, the implementation of risk management measures for inmates who are involved in the introduction, trafficking, financing, or distribution of contraband
   5. ensures any significant trends, gaps, challenges or best practices with regard to contraband are reported to the Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Correctional Operations
   6. ensures the Contraband Interdiction and Management Strategy is reviewed no less than once every 6 months, and updated if required, and
   7. consults the Regional Chaplain when reviewing inmate requests for religiously required contraband items in accordance with Guidelines (GL) 750-1: Inmate Religious Accommodation.
7. The Deputy Warden:
   1. chairs the Contraband Interdiction and Management Committee and briefs the Institutional Head as appropriate
   2. in collaboration with the Security Intelligence Officer, presents challenges, best practices, and discussion items raised by the Contraband Interdiction and Management Committee to the Local and Regional Strategic Intelligence Committees
   3. advises the Assistant Warden, Operations, and the Assistant Warden, Interventions, when a case conference is required, to discuss the involvement of an inmate in the introduction, trafficking, financing, or distribution of contraband, based on information provided by the Security Intelligence Officer, and ensures the Institutional Head is briefed, as necessary, and
   4. ensures security operations policy, procedures and activities aimed to prevent, detect, and seize contraband in the institution are implemented in accordance with appropriate policy.
8. The Assistant Warden, Operations:
   1. ensures alignment between searching policies and the Contraband Interdiction and Management Strategy, and
   2. oversees security operations activities that support contraband interdiction and management and ensures relevant information is shared with the Contraband Interdiction and Management Committee.
9. The Assistant Warden, Interventions, and the Assistant Warden, Operations, or delegate(s):
   1. organize and participate in a case conference for inmates involved in the introduction, trafficking, financing, or distribution of contraband, and
   2. ensure subsequent actions resulting from the case conference are completed.
10. The Manager, Health Care and Rehabilitation Programs and Services, or the Chief, Health Services, at Regional Treatment Centres:
    1. participates in the Contraband Interdiction and Management Committee and shares aggregate data that may be relevant to the safety of persons and security of the institution, but that will not lead to the identification of a particular inmate (for example, number of participants on Opioid Agonist Treatment, urinalysis positive for substances such as fentanyl, and so on), and
    2. ensures there is a process in place to share the aggregated data in a timely manner.
11. The Security Intelligence Officer:
    1. investigates the introduction, trafficking, financing, and distribution of contraband in the institution, and ensures the police force of primary jurisdiction is informed as required, pursuant to CD 568-4: Preservation of Crime Scenes and Evidence . This includes collaborating and supporting law enforcement to identify and disrupt institutional criminal networks involved in the introduction, trafficking, financing, and distribution of contraband in federal institutions
    2. provides information and intelligence briefings to frontline staff, including information discussed with the Contraband Interdiction and Management Committee, intelligence advisories, significant seizures, unique concealment methods for contraband, contraband‑related trends, etc., as required
    3. ensures intelligence information related to contraband, including inmate subculture activities, is shared with the Deputy Warden. This includes recommending to the Deputy Warden when a case conference should be held to discuss an inmate’s involvement in the introduction, trafficking, financing, or distribution of contraband
    4. provides subject matter expertise on the introduction, trafficking, financing, and distribution of contraband within the institutional environment to support decision-making, such as in the disciplinary process and case management. This includes participating in case conferences related to inmate involvement, and providing recommendations on risk management measures, and
    5. ensures ongoing collaboration with the Regional Intelligence Coordinator and the Security Intelligence Analyst.
12. The Parole Officer:
    1. assesses, monitors, and documents the inmate’s motivation, accountability, engagement, and progress against Correctional Plan objectives, pursuant to CD 710-1: Progress Against the Correctional Plan
    2. reviews and considers relevant intelligence information prior to making any recommendations, and
    3. participates in case conferences, and in consultation with the Security Intelligence Officer, provides recommendations on risk management measures.
13. The Correctional Officer II or the Primary Worker participates in case conferences and provides recommendations on risk management measures to the Case Management Team, when available.
14. All staff record inmate activities relating to the introduction, trafficking, financing, and distribution of contraband, pursuant to CD 568-1: Recording and Reporting of Security Incidents and CD 568-2: Recording and Sharing of Security Information and Intelligence, to support investigations and to ensure inmates involved in such activities are held accountable.
15. The Contraband Interdiction and Management Committee:
    1. develops its terms of reference, which at a minimum must include members, responsibilities of each member, documentation and information sharing
    2. develops and implements a Contraband Interdiction and Management Strategy in accordance with national direction, and reviews it no less than every 6 months to ensure the identified practices and procedures (for example, intelligence information sharing, search plans, use of non‑intrusive search tools) continue to effectively target the introduction, trafficking, financing, and distribution of contraband. This review must be documented in the meeting minutes
    3. meets at least every 2 months, reviews available information and intelligence related to contraband interdiction, including the identification of vulnerabilities for contraband introduction, and makes any necessary adjustments to the Contraband Interdiction and Management Strategy accordingly
    4. monitors and assesses the effectiveness of the Contraband Interdiction and Management Strategy by reviewing available information and observed trends with regard to urinalysis results, contraband seizures, drug-related incidents, methods of concealment, methods of introduction, etc.
    5. develops and implements strategies to raise staff, contractor, volunteer, visitor and inmate awareness of the repercussions of introducing contraband in the institution, including the associated criminal, administrative or disciplinary penalties, and
    6. prepares and maintains meeting minutes, as well as provides these minutes to the Institutional Head.

Procedures

Contraband Interdiction and Management Committee

16. The Contraband Interdiction and Management Committee is a multidisciplinary committee that contributes to a safe and secure institution by working collaboratively to establish an integrated approach.
17. This includes information and intelligence at a local level, reviewing interdictions for known contraband introduction methods, sharing intelligence advisories, analyzing contraband-related trends, reviewing search plans, etc.
18. The Deputy Warden chairs the Contraband Interdiction and Management Committee. Other participants will normally include: the Security Intelligence Officer; the Assistant Warden, Operations; the Assistant Warden, Interventions; the Assistant Warden, Management Services; the Correctional Manager, Operations, or equivalent; and the Manager, Health Care and Rehabilitation Programs and Services, or the Chief, Health Services, at Regional Treatment Centres. Any additional members will be specified in the terms of reference developed by the Committee or may be invited on an ad hoc basis to contribute to the discussion.
19. The Contraband Interdiction and Management Committee meetings serve to inform participants of what has occurred since the last meeting, including search results, urinalysis results, actioned intelligence information, use of technology, successful mitigation strategies, vulnerable areas of the institution, relevant Health Services aggregate data, intelligence products, and any other information deemed appropriate. The meetings also serve as a forum to review, as necessary, existing policy, practices and procedures that support the Contraband Interdiction and Management Strategy.

Contraband Interdiction and Management Strategy

20. The Contraband Interdiction and Management Strategy is developed by the Contraband Interdiction and Management Committee, and identifies potential vulnerabilities for the introduction, trafficking, and distribution of contraband in CSC institutions. It also sets out the required controls, tools, and activities to address these vulnerabilities in alignment with the guidance and principles contained in the Contraband Interdiction and Management Framework.
21. The Contraband Interdiction and Management Strategy is developed in accordance with national direction, which assists with its operationalization.
22. The content of the Contraband Interdiction and Management Strategy, including the actions and activities to address identified threats, takes into consideration the operational needs, security level and infrastructure of the institution, available tools and technology as well as the profile of the inmate population.
23. The Contraband Interdiction and Management Strategy, including any amendments to this strategy, are reviewed and approved by the Institutional Head.

Individualized Risk Management

24. When an inmate is involved in the introduction, trafficking, financing, or distribution of contraband, a case conference will be convened to:
    1. discuss the risk that the inmate presents
    2. determine whether the risk can be managed in the current institution, and
    3. if applicable, determine the risk management measures that will be recommended to the appropriate decision maker.
25. The Assistant Warden, Interventions, or the Assistant Warden, Operations (or delegate), the Security Intelligence Officer(s), the inmate’s Parole Officer, and the Correctional Officer II or the Primary Worker, if available, normally attend the case conference. Additional members of the operational staff or the inmate’s Case Management Team may participate on a need-to-know basis.
26. The Parole Officer, in collaboration with the Security Intelligence Officer, presents the inmate’s case at the case conference.
27. The Parole Officer, in consultation with the Security Intelligence Officer, documents the results of the case conference or subsequent decisions related to risk management measures, if applicable, in a Casework Record, in accordance with Annex B and CD 710-1: Progress Against the Correctional Plan.

Risk Management Measures

28. Risk management measures are intended to manage the risks presented by the inmate’s involvement in the introduction, trafficking, financing, or distribution of contraband.
29. Risk management measures take into account the specific security and operational requirements of the institution.
30. Risk management measures, as necessary, are considered and recommended to the appropriate decision maker.
31. In consideration of available information and intelligence regarding the risks posed by the inmate to the security of the institution or the safety of persons, the case conference participants consider whether there is a need to implement 1 or more risk management measures in accordance with Annex C.

Enquiries

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

Assistant Commissioner,
Correctional Operations and Programs
Jay Pyke

Annex A - Cross-References and Definitions

Cross-References

• CD 081: Offender Complaints and Grievances
• CD 085: Correspondence and Telephone Communication
• CD 559: Visits
• CD 566-4: Counts and Security Patrols
• CD 566-7: Searching of Offenders
• CD 566-8: Searching of Staff and Visitors
• GL 566-8-1: Use of Non-Intrusive Search Tools
• CD 566-9: Searching of Cells/Rooms, Vehicles and Other Areas
• CD 566-10: Urinalysis Testing
• CD 566-12: Personal Property of Offenders
• CD 566-13: Detector Dog Program
• CD 568: Management of Security Information and Intelligence
• CD 568-2: Recording and Sharing of Security Information and Intelligence
• CD 568-10: Interception of Inmate Communications
• CD 573: Control of Items Critical to the Security and Safety of Institutions
• CD 580: Discipline of Inmates
• CD 581: Violations of the Law by Inmates
• CD 585: National Drugs and Substances Strategy
• GL 585-1: Individual Substance Use Framework
• CD 701: Information Sharing
• CD 710-1: Progress Against the Correctional Plan
• CD 710-3: Temporary Absences
• CD 710-4: Perimeter Security Clearance
• CD 710-6: Review of Inmate Security Classification
• GL 710-2-3: Inmate Transfer Processes
• CD 710-7: Work Releases
• CD 710-8: Private Family Visits
• CD 711: Structured Intervention Units
• CD 712-1: Pre-Release Decision-Making
• CD 730: Offender Program Assignments and Inmate Payments
• CD 735: Employment and Employability Program
• GL 750-1: Inmate Religious Accommodation
• CD 860: Offender’s Money

Definitions

Case conference: a formal meeting, consultation, or discussion about an inmate between 2 or more individuals.

Contraband (section 2 of the CCRA):

1. an intoxicant,
2. a weapon or a component thereof, ammunition for a weapon, and anything that is designed to kill, injure or disable a person or that is altered so as to be capable of killing, injuring or disabling a person, when possessed without prior authorization,
3. an explosive or a bomb or a component thereof,
4. currency over any applicable prescribed limit, when possessed without prior authorization, and
5. any item not described in paragraphs (a) to (d) that could jeopardize the security of a penitentiary or the safety of persons, when that item is possessed without prior authorization.

Contraband interdiction: activities targeting the introduction, trafficking, financing, and distribution of contraband.

Contraband Interdiction and Management Committee: a multidisciplinary committee that contributes to a safe institutional environment for staff, inmates, and visitors by reducing the presence of contraband and unauthorized items in CSC institutions.

Contraband trafficking: selling, giving, transferring, transporting, sending, or delivering any item or substance defined as contraband.

Annex B : Case Conference Casework Record Outline

Title: Contraband Interdiction and Management Strategy Case Conference

Summary of Information

• Include the date(s) and summary of relevant incidents or intelligence information.
• Highlight the risk posed by the inmate.
• Include all relevant information that was used to support the recommendation(s) with regard to risk management measures.

Note: Should intelligence information be used to assist in the decision making, consultation must occur with the Security Intelligence Officer.

Overall Recommendation and Rationale

• Include the date of the case conference and a list of those present.
• Include the recommended risk management measures, and other relevant details explaining how the risk posed by the inmate will be mitigated.
• Include the rationale supporting the recommendation(s).

Note: Risk management measures are intended to manage risk and must have a clear link to the introduction, trafficking, financing, or distribution of contraband.

Annex C : Risk Management Measures

The following is a non-exhaustive list of risk management measures that could be taken:

1. a security classification review in accordance with CD 710-6: Review of Inmate Security Classification
2. if it is determined that the inmate’s risk is no longer manageable at the current institution but can be managed at another institution with the same security level, a transfer will be pursued, in accordance with GL 710-2-3: Inmate Transfer Processes
3. if an inmate has been granted a conditional release by the Parole Board of Canada and there is a significant change in the inmate’s circumstances prior to their release, the Parole Officer will inform the Parole Board of Canada and submit an Assessment for Decision, in accordance with CD 712-1: Pre‑Release Decision-Making
4. a review of the inmate's Correctional Plan and Correctional Plan Update where required, pursuant to CD 710-1: Progress Against the Correctional Plan
5. a transfer to a Structured Intervention Unit, in accordance with CD 711: Structured Intervention Units
6. a suspension or termination of the inmate’s employment assignment, if the employment position may facilitate the inmate’s efforts to introduce, traffic, finance, or distribute contraband, pursuant to CD 735: Employment and Employability Program and CD 730: Offender Program Assignments and Inmate Payments
7. if an inmate has been granted temporary absences, other than for medical reasons, or work releases, upon receipt of new information, the Parole Officer will complete a new Assessment for Decision or addendum, as appropriate, in accordance with CD 710-3: Temporary Absences and CD 710-7: Work Releases
8. a review of an approved perimeter security clearance, pursuant to CD 710-4: Perimeter Security Clearance
9. if there are reasonable grounds to believe that an inmate’s communications contain or will contain evidence of an act that jeopardizes the security of the penitentiary or the safety of any person and if the Institutional Head is satisfied that an interception of the inmate’s communications is the least restrictive measure available in the circumstances, the Institutional Head may authorize the interception of the inmate’s communications, in accordance with CD 568-10: Interception of Inmate Communications
10. limiting, restricting or preventing communication, in accordance with CD 085: Correspondence and Telephone Communication
11. in accordance with CD 559: Visits, a visit may be refused or suspended if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that during the course of the visit, the inmate or visitor would jeopardize the security of the penitentiary or the safety of any person, or plan to commit a criminal offence, and that restrictions on the manner in which the visit takes place would not be adequate to control the risk
12. in accordance with CD 710-8: Private Family Visits, a private family visit may be refused or suspended if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that during the course of the visit, the inmate or visitor would jeopardize the security of the penitentiary or the safety of any person, or plan to commit a criminal offence, and that restrictions on the manner in which the visit takes place would not be adequate to control the risk, or for other reasons determined by the Institutional Head or designate, and
13. additional risk management measures that are supported by policy and recommended by the Contraband Interdiction and Management Committee.