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Guidelines 711-2: Management of Structured Intervention Unit inmates and Inmates Subject to Restricted Movement

Number: 711-2

In effect: 2025-06-09

Authorities

Purpose

Application

Applies to all staff and contractors working with and providing services to inmates in an SIU or subject to restricted movement.

Responsibilities

  1. The Deputy Commissioner for Women will decide to approve or not approve all transfers of women offenders from an SIU to an alternate SIU at a women’s institution, in accordance with the SIU Procedures Manual – Women’s Sites.
  2. The Regional Deputy Commissioner will ensure SIU sites offer opportunities for community supports to engage with SIU inmates.
  3. The Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Correctional Operations:
    1. will approve or not approve all inter-regional transfers of male inmates from an SIU to an alternate SIU at a men’s institution within their region
    2. will ensure:
      1. procedures that support the management of SIU inmates and inmates subject to restricted movement as outlined in the SIU Procedures Manuals are followed
      2. regional reviews of SIU cases are completed, pursuant to regional SIU case review processes, and
      3. SIUs have indoor and outdoor recreation space and equipment.
  4. The Regional Administrator, Indigenous Initiatives, will ensure cultural services and supports are available to SIU inmates and inmates subject to restricted movement, in accordance with Commissioner’s Directive (CD) 702: Indigenous Offenders.
  5. The Regional Chaplain will provide advice and support to the Assistant Warden, Interventions, and guidance to Chaplains to ensure inmates have access to chaplaincy and spiritual services while in an SIU or subject to restricted movement, in accordance with CD 750: Chaplaincy Services.
  6. The SIU Regional Project Officer will support the Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Correctional Operations, and regional senior management by:
    1. identifying and monitoring trends related to SIU transfers, the management of SIU inmates, SIU population dynamics, conditions of confinement and complex cases
    2. tracking compliance with SIU policies and procedures, and
    3. providing information, analysis, and recommendations in relation to SIU inmates, inmates subject to restricted movement, and on SIU operations.
  7. The Institutional Head will:
    1. approve or not approve all intra-regional transfers of male inmates from an SIU to an alternate SIU at a men’s institution
    2. attend the SIU on a weekly basis and meet with SIU inmates upon inmate request
    3. ensure:
      1. dedicated SIU resources are in place and staff redeployment is in accordance with National Standards, in CD 004: National Standards for the Deployment of Correctional Officers
      2. Elders, Spiritual Advisors, Indigenous Liaison Officers, Chaplains, and community supports have space and opportunities to meet with SIU inmates or inmates subject to restricted movement
      3. SIU inmates and inmates subject to restricted movement have space and opportunities to meet with and contact family and community supports
      4. an SIU Inmate Handbook or a Handbook for Inmates Subject to Restricted Movement is developed and updated as required
      5. SIU entitlements are provided to SIU inmates or inmates subject to restricted movement during a security incident in the penitentiary and only approve an exception to providing inmate(s) with their SIU entitlements when there are no other alternative measures that could be implemented, and
      6. exceptions to providing inmates with their daily SIU entitlements are reviewed and documented, as required, and the reason(s) for an exception is shared with any affected inmates.
  8. The Assistant Warden, Interventions, will work collaboratively with the Assistant Warden, Operations, to ensure:
    1. staff and contractors offer a variety of opportunities to SIU inmates and inmates subject to restricted movement to be out of their cell for a minimum of four (4) hours daily and, as part of the four (4) hours out of cell:
      1. SIU inmates are provided with opportunities to interact with others for a minimum of two (2) hours daily
      2. inmates subject to restricted movement are provided with opportunities to interact with others for a minimum of two (2) hours daily, when circumstances permit
    2. SIU inmates and inmates subject to restricted movement have access to visits, in accordance with CD 559: Visits
    3. an inmate’s individual needs, pursuant to their Correctional Plan, are considered in providing opportunities for inmates to be out of their cell and interact with others
    4. in-person correctional interventions and services, cultural activities, religious and spiritual practice, leisure activities, family and community contact, participation in the non-residential Mother-Child Program, and contact with community supports are prioritized and, where in‑person interaction is not possible, ensure alternative delivery options are offered, if available, such as video visitation and telephone calls, and
    5. CSC staff and contractors encourage SIU inmates or inmates subject to restricted movement to avail themselves of their SIU entitlements and continue to make reasonable offers to inmates refusing to spend time out of their cell or interact with others for the minimum required time each day. 
  1. The Assistant Warden, Operations, will work collaboratively with the Assistant Warden, Interventions, to ensure:
    1. an SIU operational routine is established and adapted, as necessary, that provides SIU inmates and inmates subject to restricted movement with opportunities to be out of their cell for a minimum of four (4) hours daily, not including showers, and as part of the four (4) hours out of cell:
      1. SIU inmates are provided with opportunities to interact with others for a minimum of two (2) hours daily
      2. inmates subject to restricted movement are provided with opportunities to interact with others for a minimum of two (2) hours daily, if circumstances permit
    2. all opportunities and offers for activities for time out of cell and to interact with others are recorded in the SIU application and all opportunities and offers for activities are accurately reflected in the end-of-day review
    3. every reasonable effort is made to provide in-person interactions without the use of barriers and any use of a barrier is recorded in the SIU application, including the reason(s) why, and
    4. the transfer warrant is signed prior to an inmate’s physical transfer from an SIU to an alternate SIU.
  2. The SIU Manager, the Manager, Intensive Intervention Strategy (IIS), or the Manager, Assessment and Interventions, as applicable, will:
    1. coordinate opportunities for SIU inmates and inmates subject to restricted movement to engage in SIU case management activities, and
    2. ensure SIU-to-SIU transfer inmate notifications and sharing procedures are completed.
  3. The Correctional Manager in charge of the institution will, on weekends and holidays, meet with inmates subject to restricted movement daily in accordance with subsection 37.91(2) of the CCRA and document each interaction in the SIU application.
  4. The SIU Correctional Manager, the Correctional Manager, IIS, or a Correctional Manager in charge of the institution, as applicable, will:
    1. implement and adjust, as required, the SIU or restricted movement operational routine
    2. ensureSIU inmates and inmates subject to restricted movement are provided with opportunities for at least one (1) hour of outdoor exercise or one (1) hour of indoor exercise when the weather does not permit outdoor exercise
    3. ensure an SIU Threat Risk Assessment (SIU-TRA) is reviewed daily when a barrier is used for any in-person interaction, until the need for a barrier is removed from the SIU-TRA
    4. in consultation with the SIU Security Intelligence Officer, ensure SIU-TRAs are completed and updated as needed to determine or confirm changes to inmate associations and movement
    5. complete end-of-day reviews for each SIU inmate and inmate subject to restricted movement and ensure accuracy and completeness of data entries, including when an inmate is temporarily out of the facility or the SIU, and
    6. ensure, after being temporarily out of the facility or the SIU, that all reasonable efforts are made to provide SIU inmates and inmates subject to restricted movement with opportunities to be out of their cell and to interact with others once they return to the SIU or their assigned cell when subject to restricted movement between the hours of 07:00 and 22:00.
  5. The SIU Parole Officer or the Parole Officer at women’s institutions will:
    1. meet with the inmate prior to the development of their SIU Correctional Plan Update (SIU-CPU) and identify objectives, in consultation with the inmate, that support the inmate’s identified needs and promote a return to a mainstream inmate population
    2. encourage inmates to participate in opportunities to meet the objectives of their SIU-CPU
    3. meet with the inmate when the inmate is not availing themselves of their SIU entitlements and:
      1. encourage the inmate to avail themselves of their SIU entitlements
      2. recommend updates to referrals for correctional interventions and services, as required
      3. consult with Health Services to determine if a referral to Health Services is required, and
    4. complete SIU-to-SIU transfer casework procedures, as required.
  6. At men’s institutions, the SIU Data and Activity Coordinator will provide SIU data quality and activity coordination support to the SIU Manager and SIU Correctional Manager to optimize the provision of opportunities to SIU inmates.
  7. All staff and contractors working with and providing services to SIU inmates or inmates subject to restricted movement will:
    1. encourage SIU inmates or inmates subject to restricted movement to avail themselves of the opportunities provided to spend time out of their cell and to interact with others
    2. encourage SIU inmates to engage in the opportunities for interventions outlined in their SIU-CPU
    3. document their offers to SIU inmates and inmates subject to restricted movement to spend time out of their cell and to interact with others
    4. immediately report safety and security concerns in the SIU to their supervisor, and
    5. refer inmates to a registered health care professional and notify the Institutional Head when a referral is made, when the staff member or person engaged by CSC believes that confinement in an SIU is having detrimental impacts on the inmate’s health in accordance with section 37.11 of the CCRA and section 21 of the CCRR.

Enquiries

  1. Strategic Policy Division
    National Headquarters
    Email: Gen-NHQPolicy-Politi@CSC-SCC.gc.ca

Assistant Commissioner,
Correctional Operations and Programs
Jay Pyke

Annex A: Cross-references and definitions

Cross-references

Definitions

Barrier: any physical barrier, such as bars, security glass, cell doors, door hatches or screens, that would mediate or interpose an opportunity to interact through human contact, in accordance with subsection 32(2) of the CCRA.

Community supports: community organizations and volunteers that provide programs, interventions, and services to support the provision of opportunities for time out of cell and interaction with others. 

Conditions of confinement: for the purpose of the SIU policy suite, the living conditions of an inmate while in an SIU or subject to restricted movement, which includes, but is not limited to, showers, cleanliness of the unit, working conditions of range and unit amenities, the frequency, duration and type of opportunities made available to the inmate, as well as the conditions under which these opportunities are provided, including whether barriers are used to mediate or interpose human interactions.

Contractors: for the purpose of the SIU policy suite, people under contract with CSC to provide specific interventions and services to SIU inmates, including Elders, Elder’s Helpers, Teachers, Chaplains, and Spiritual Advisors. 

Correctional interventions: for the purpose of the SIU policy suite, activities and interventions related to correctional programs, educational programs, the Behavioural Skills Coaching Intervention, support from Behavioural Interventionists at women’s institutions, and social programs that support the return of SIU inmates to a mainstream inmate population at the earliest possible time, while maintaining continuity in meeting the objectives of their Correctional Plan.

Inmate subject to restricted movement: any inmate who is authorized for transfer to an SIU and placed on restricted movement status pending their physical movement to an SIU. 

Interact with others: CSC’s obligation to provide inmates in an SIU, between the hours of 07:00 and 22:00, with opportunities to interact with others for a minimum of two (2) hours each day, through activities including, but not limited to, programs, interventions and services that encourage the inmate to make progress towards the objectives of their Correctional Plan or that support the inmate’s reintegration into the mainstream inmate population, and leisure time, in accordance with subsection 36(1) of the CCRA.

SIU application: application used by CSC staff and applicable contractors to document SIU decisions, the daily activities, interactions with inmates and other information related to an inmate’s confinement in an SIU or when subject to restricted movement.

SIU entitlements: CSC’s obligations to provide SIU inmates or inmates subject to restricted movement with opportunities to be out of their cell for a minimum of four (4) hours each day, and as part of their four (4) hours outside of cell, a minimum of two (2) hours to interact with others each day, in accordance with subsection 36(1) of the CCRA. For inmates subject to restricted movement, opportunities to interact with others are to be provided only if the circumstances permit, in accordance with subsection 37.91(1) of the CCRA.

SIU inmate: any inmate authorized or approved for transfer to an SIU and who is physically residing in an SIU.

SIU site: an institution with an SIU, as designated by the Commissioner.

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