Policy bulletin 702

Commissioner’s Directive (CD) 860 - Offender’s Money

During the pandemic, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) waived deductions for food, accommodation, and the administration of the inmate telephone system and increased the annual transfer limit, as temporary measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on offenders.

Following the review of the inmate pay and allowance system in 2022, CSC proposed to permanently eliminate deductions for food, accommodation, and the administration of the inmate telephone system. These ongoing measures support offenders’ purchasing power and provide them with financial flexibility. This was approved by the Minister of Public Safety.

To encourage offenders to save for their release and ensure they have sufficient funds, CSC has increased: the minimum balance required in offenders’ savings accounts; annual transfer limit; and the minimum amount with which offenders are released.

The Institutional Head/District Director’s responsibility to approve reductions or waivers of food and accommodation deductions has been removed from the policy.

In the Deductions section, the reference to deductions for food, accommodation, and the administration of the inmate telephone system has been remove.

The following sections have been removed from the policy: Food and Accommodation; Reducing or Waiving Food and Accommodation Deductions; and Inmate Telephone System Administration.

The minimum balance in an offender’s savings account has been increased from $80 to $200.

The amount that an offender can transfer from their savings account to their current account has been increased from $750 to $850 annually.

The minimum amount with which an offender can be released has been increased from $50 to $200.

These policy changes are effective April 1, 2023 and have been updated accordingly within the policy.

The Reintegration Services Division developed the policy update in collaboration with the Strategic Policy Division.

All staff involved with the administration of offender’s money and offenders.

Roles and responsibilities are detailed in the policy document.