Policy bulletin 424

Policy Bulletin

Commissioner’s Directive (CD) 702 was revised as a result of the CD Standardization Project. Minor revisions were made to the content to bring it in line with other policies. The main modification is the removal of the information on Pathways Initiatives from the CD, to transfer it in new stand-alone Guidelines numbered 702-1.

CD 702 - Aboriginal Offenders

• The Institutional Head’s responsibilities were amended as follows:
  • In paragraph 6(e), the requirement to consider an offender’s Aboriginal social history and culturally appropriate/ restorative options in the decision making process has been revised to reflect the wording used in other policies;
  • Paragraph 6(h) now indicates that the Institutional Head will consult with the Elder/Spiritual Advisor or, in the absence of the Elder, the Regional Administrator, Aboriginal Initiatives (instead of the Aboriginal Liaison Officer);
  • Paragraph 6(o) has been added to ensure the assistance of an interpreter is provided to offenders who do not speak either of the official languages, pursuant to subsection 27(4) of the CCRA, for any hearing or for the purposes of understanding materials provided to the offender;
• The above responsibility regarding the assistance of an interpreter has also been added under the responsibilities of the District Director in paragraph 7(c);
• References to the new Guidelines 702-1 have been added;
• The cross-references in Annex A have been updated;
• Annex G (Pathways Development and Management) has been removed from the CD;
• The CD has been reformatted as a result of the CD Standardization Project, including:
  • a new look, resulting in stand-alone English and French versions;
  • a clearer context for the policy document by including its relation to the Program Alignment Architecture, the Office(s) of Primary Interest as well as information on dates of past reviews and future ones;
  • the purpose, which replaces the “policy objective”, is more practical in nature; and
  • a more concise language/style is used throughout the document.

GL 702-1 - Establishment and Operation of Pathways Initiatives

New Guidelines 702-1 have been published. They contain the information which was formerly presented in Annex G of CD 702. The information on Pathways Initiatives has been reorganized in accordance with the usual policy structure, including sections on Authorities, Purpose, Application, Responsibilities and Procedures.

These policies were revised by the Aboriginal Initiatives Directorate in cooperation with the Strategic Policy Division and approved by the Senior Deputy Commissioner. The new Guidelines were the subject of a national consultation.

Roles and responsibilities are detailed in the policy documents.

Who will be affected by the policy?

All staff working with Aboriginal offenders are affected by these policies.

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• Lisa Allgaier
• Director General, Aboriginal Initiatives
• 613-995-5465
• Lisa.Allgaier@csc-scc.gc.ca