Policy Bulletin 732

The English text of this document has been written using gender-neutral language. Given the binary structure of the French language, and to facilitate reading, the masculine is used without prejudice to gender in the French text.

Number: 732
In Effect: 2026-03-16

• Commissioner’s Directive 585: National Drugs and Substances Strategy
• Guidelines 585-1: Individual Substance Use Framework
• Guidelines 585-2: Contraband Interdiction and Management Framework

Why the policies were changed

The three policy instruments are the result of Correctional Service of Canada’s (CSC) commitment to reconceptualize its national drugs and substances policy framework to align with Health Canada’s renewed Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy.

What changed

Commissioner’s Directive 585: National Drugs and Substances Strategy

This policy is aligned with the renewed Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy and includes CSC’s vision, foundational elements, and guiding principles.

The vision of the National Drugs and Substances Strategy (NDSS) is to promote the health and safety of CSC staff, inmates, and the public by preventing and minimizing harms related to substance use, including a focused effort on mitigation strategies for reducing the introduction, trafficking, financing, and distribution of substances within CSC facilities.

The guiding principles lay the groundwork for the NDSS and are continuous throughout the framework:

• equitable
• collaborative
• compassionate
• comprehensive.

The foundational elements of the NDSS are:

• evidence
• prevention and education
• services and supports
• substance controls.

Guidelines 585-1: Individual Substance Use Framework

These new guidelines aim to:

• promote the health and safety of inmates by preventing and minimizing harms related to substance use
• provide guidance to staff in responding to individual substance use, in a respectful and non-stigmatizing way
• promote access to health treatment, support, harm reduction, and correctional interventions along a continuum based on the inmate’s identified substance use-related needs.

An interdisciplinary approach has been developed in order to respond to an inmate’s individual substance use needs.

Guidelines 585-2: Contraband Interdiction and Management Framework

These new guidelines aim to:

• contribute to a safe institutional environment for staff, inmates, and visitors by reducing the presence of contraband and unauthorized items in CSC institutions
• target the introduction, trafficking, financing, and distribution of contraband through the collection, analysis and sharing of intelligence information, and the application of dynamic and static security practices to guide operational and case management decision making, and ensure those involved are held accountable.

How they were developed

The Preventive Security and Intelligence Branch and the Health Services Sector developed these policies in collaboration with the Security Branch, the Offender Programs and Reintegration Branch and the Strategic Policy Division, as well as in consultation with internal and external stakeholders.

Who is affected by the policies

All CSC staff and contractors working with inmates in institutions, excluding Community Correctional Centres, will be affected by these policies.

Accountabilities

The Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs, and the Assistant Commissioner, Health Services, are the offices of primary interest responsible for these policies.

Further responsibilities are detailed in the policy documents.

Contact

Strategic Policy Division
NHQ.Policy-Politiques.AC@csc-scc.gc.ca