Policy bulletin 678
Policy Bulletin
Number: 678
In Effect: 2021-11-08
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Policy numbers and titles:
Commissioner’s Directive (CD) 726 – Correctional Programs
Guidelines (GL) 726-1 – National Correctional Program Standards
Guidelines (GL) 726-2 – National Correctional Program Referral Guidelines
Guidelines (GL) 726-3 – National Correctional Program Management Guidelines
Why were these policies changed?
The above-mentioned policy and guidelines were amended to improve the delivery and management of correctional programs, and to include enhancements made to program screens in the Offender Management System (OMS), following recommendations from the 2020 Evaluation of Correctional Reintegration Programs.
Additional changes were made to provide updated information and clarification of the Responsibilities and Procedures sections during the full review of these policy documents.
What has changed?
Throughout the policy and guidelines:
- the responsibilities and procedures for staff and contractors involved in correctional program development, management, monitoring, referrals, and delivery have been updated and clearly defined
- correctional program referrals will be based on the Criminal Risk Index, as well as supplementary assessments as required, for all offenders
- all references to the term “Aboriginal” have been replaced with the term “Indigenous” in the English versions of the policies
- definitions have been added and updated.
GL 726-2 – National Correctional Program Referral Guidelines
The Program Identification Tool (PIT) has been replaced by the Identification of Needs for Correctional Programs (INCP) screen in OMS for identifying and recording correctional program needs. The INCP screen is used to identify the offender’s correctional program needs based on information from various assessments.
Inuit men offenders with no programming need will no longer be referred to the program primer of the Inuit Integrated Correctional Program.
All offenders who are assessed as high risk and who completed an Integrated Correctional Program Model, Indigenous Integrated Correctional Program Model, or Inuit Integrated Correctional Program main program will be referred to the institutional and/or community maintenance programs. A clear rationale must be documented in the offender's Correctional Plan should a decision be made not to proceed with a referral to a maintenance program.
The override criteria for men and women offenders have been fully revised and moved to the new Annex E – Override Criteria for Correctional Program Referrals.
GL 726-3 – National Correctional Program Management Guidelines
The PIT has been replaced by the INCP screen in OMS for identifying and recording correctional program needs. Therefore, staff are no longer required to use the Identified Program Need referral procedure. The INCP screen is used to identify the offender’s correctional program needs based on information from various assessments.
How were the policies developed?
The policy and guidelines were developed by the Correctional Operations and Programs Sector and the Strategic Policy Division, in consultation with the Women Offender Sector, and the Indigenous Initiatives Directorate.
Who will be affected by the policies?
Staff and contractors involved in correctional program development, management, monitoring, referrals, and delivery.
Accountabilities?
Roles and responsibilities are detailed in the policy documents.
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