Interim Policy bulletin 697

Commissioner’s Directive (CD) 009 – Research

The policy was amended to ensure clear and consistent direction is provided to Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) employees on research and related activities following the promulgation of the Scientific Integrity Policy.

Pursuant to the May 15, 2017 and June 1, 2017 Memoranda of Agreement between the Treasury Board and the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) with respect to scientific integrity, departments and agencies that employ 10 or more employees in the Research (RE) or Applied Science and Patent Examination (SP) groups are required to develop their own scientific integrity policies and procedures in consultation with PIPSC representatives. As such, CSC has developed the required policy on scientific integrity, and has made revisions to CD 009 to clarify its applicability and purpose in light of this new national policy on research.

The Purpose of CD 009 now reads as follows :

To ensure all external research proposals, collaborative research and internal research meet legal, ethical, methodological and scientific standards

The Application of CD 009 now reads as follows:

Applies to all CSC staff, students, volunteers, academics, and contractors who design, conduct, communicate and manage research involving CSC, or coordinate and review external research submissions.

Paragraph 4 falls under the authority of the Director, Research.

Paragraph 4.c. now reads as follows:

coordinate the dissemination of results from approved research activities.

The definition of the term “research” now reads as follows:

Research: any undertaking intended to extend knowledge through a disciplined inquiry or systematic investigation.

The below definition has been added to the policy:

Research activity: endeavour with the purpose of contributing to generalizable knowledge in the area of focus with the intent to share, distribute and/or disseminate findings when appropriate. The collection and/or analysis of CSC data that is required for administrative, operational or organizational purposes is not considered a research activity for the purposes of this policy.

The term “researcher” has been replaced throughout the policy by “individuals conducting research”.

Changes to CD 009 were developed by the Research Division, in consultation with the Strategic Policy Division.

All CSC staff, students, volunteers, academics, and contractors who design, conduct, communicate and manage research, or coordinate and review external research submissions.

Roles and responsibilities are detailed in the policy document.