Policy bulletin 572

Policy Bulletin

The changes made to this policy are a result of ongoing reviews to enhance the requirements related to administrative segregation.

Several modifications have been made to the policy, including :

• The wording of the purpose has been strengthened.
• Changes to responsibilities and requirements at the institutional, regional and national review levels have been made in order to strengthen and enhance both placement and review considerations.
• The authority to chair the National Long-Term Segregation Review Committee has been elevated to the Senior Deputy Commissioner (SDC), and now includes the requirement to review cases where the inmate has reached 4 placements or 90 cumulative days in segregation in a calendar year. As the chair of this committee, the SDC now has the responsibility to make a decision as to whether the inmate is to be maintained in or released from administrative segregation.
• A section on Compliance Responsibilities has been added to encompass reporting and other related responsibilities for areas of non compliance.
• Changes were made to the Institutional Head responsibilities to enhance the requirements related to documenting specific details for all decisions and actions taken with regard to administrative segregation.
• There are now specific groups of inmates not admissible to administrative segregation as well as additional groups that are not admissible unless exceptional circumstances are identified.
• Responsibilities have been added for the Assistant Warden, Operations, specifically related to oversight of daily operations, conditions of confinement and recording of information in the segregation unit.
• Responsibilities have been added for the Assistant Warden, Interventions, specifically related to oversight of case management in segregation, access to programs and services, and sharing of information for review.
• Conditions of confinement have been enhanced to ensure the allowance of personal property, essential items, daily showers, and a minimum of two hours daily outside of the inmate’s cell.
• Changes have been made to timeframes related to continuous placements.
• Consultation requirements when inmates are admitted to segregation have been reinforced.
• The requirements of the Reintegration Action Plan have also been reinforced.
• The role of the advocate has been refined, more specifically allowing access for inmates with functional challenges related to mental health.
• The Citizen Advisory Committee is now mentioned in the policy in order to reinforce access to inmates in administrative segregation, as well as to establish a mechanism for providing observations and concerns for consideration, and participating in specified reviews.
• Changes and additions were made to the definitions to clarify the policy as well as the new requirements.
• Changes were made to the Guidelines to include an annex on transfers.

This policy was developed by the Correctional Operations and Programs Sector, the Policy Sector, the Health Services Sector and Legal Services. In addition, internal and external consultations were undertaken throughout the development of this policy.

Inmates, staff and contractors involved in the administrative segregation and correctional planning process.

The Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs, is the Office of Primary Interest responsible for this policy. Responsibilities for the various levels (i.e. national, regional and local) are outlined in the policy document.

• Changes to the Offender Management System are currently underway to reflect the requirements in the policy and Guidelines.
• Changes to related tools, training, and other materials are currently underway.