Policy Bulletin 739
To facilitate reading in French, the masculine form is used without prejudice to gender, given the binary nature of the French language.
Number: 739
In Effect: 2026-05-04
Related documents
- Commissioner’s Directive 715: Community Supervision Framework
- Commissioner’s Directive 715-1: Community Supervision
Why the policies were changed
We modified these policies to incorporate commitments made in response to recommendations from Boards of Investigation, as well as directions and clarifications from Interim Policy Bulletins and Case Management Bulletins. We also made amendments to align the policies with current requirements, procedures and best practices.
What changed
Throughout the policies:
- we reviewed and updated responsibilities and procedures where necessary to more clearly define policy directions
- we replaced the term “Aboriginal” with the term “Indigenous” in the English versions of the policies
- we reviewed and revised definitions, and added new ones
- we incorporated gender-inclusive language and policy direction to meet the needs of gender diverse offenders.
The major changes made to the policies are detailed as follows:
We assigned new responsibilities to the District Director, including ensuring a Community Correctional Intervention Committee is established to assist in the management of complex cases and ensuring staff who have contacts with offenders outside parole offices or Community Correctional Centres have access to the Community Safety Alert System prior to any contact in the community.
To improve quality control mechanisms related to case conferences and collateral contacts, new responsibilities are assigned to the Area Director, the Parole Officer Supervisor and the Community Correctional Centre Manager to ensure these activities are conducted as per the policy and address all critical elements specific to each case. We also included general ongoing responsibilities for Parole Officers, as they were not previously reflected in the policy.
We clarified requirements regarding Staff Safety Assessments, tandem supervision partners, and the use of the Community Safety Alert System during community supervision.
Responsibilities
We reassigned the responsibility for tandem supervision from the Area Director to the Parole Officer Supervisor or the Community Correctional Centre Manager. The Area Director now acts as the final decision maker only in instances of dissenting opinions.
We amended most of the Parole Officer’s responsibilities for clarity and added new responsibilities with regard to day parole to another location, discussing accommodation needs with gender diverse offenders and completing the applicable sections in the individualized protocol, in collaboration with the offender.
We added new guidance on the importance of reviewing and updating the Family Violence Risk Assessment and the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment, as well as the circumstances when these assessments must be conducted.
Staff Safety and Tandem Supervision
We added new procedures to this section and others and clarified existing ones.
Release from the Institution, Change of Release Type or Continuation of Day Parole
We clarified the actions required at the time of the initial release from the institution and following a change of release type or the continuation of day parole.
Levels of Intervention
We specified that offenders supervised at Level I must have reintegration potential rated from low to medium in order to be supervised at Level A.
We also added a new intervention Level F.
Monitoring Offender Progress
We now allow a combination of virtual and in-person contacts to meet the required level of intervention for offenders residing in remote or isolated locations. We clarified the distinction between a remote and an isolated location, and outlined the supervision requirements and the Community Strategy associated with each.
Communication or sharing of unclassified information, including non-personal information, with offenders through text message or email is permitted when consent is obtained from the offender.
We added guidance in relation to collateral contacts.
Staff must now document any changes observed in the offender’s physical appearance in the Offender Management System as per the updated policy.
We defined procedures for sharing information and responding when offenders show signs of suicidal ideation or self‑injury.
Case Conferences
We added additional circumstances that require a case conference, including prior to the approval of the first travel permit or weekend pass to a community support, as well as to confirm the frequency of urinalysis or end the analysis.
Updating Offender Progress
We added a mandatory annual review and update of the Correctional Plan, as well as additional events prompting a review.
We also added a mandatory annual review of all release conditions. Parole Officers must conduct a structured review with the offender at least once every 12 months to determine whether each condition remains reasonable and necessary based on the offender’s risk level and reintegration needs as assessed in the Correctional Plan.
Travel Permits
We added several new procedures regarding travel permits and established territorial boundaries, including holding a case conference and consulting the Victim Services Unit for the authorization of travel inside imposed geographical restrictions.
New sections
We added two new sections to provide guidance on actions required at sentence expiry and following the death of an offender.
Annex B: Staff Safety Assessment
We amended the Staff Safety Assessment to reflect changes to the Offender Management System that came into effect on September 30, 2023.
Annex C: Rating Reassessment Framework
We clarified the overall rating process for dynamic factors.
Annex F: Tandem Supervision Reference Document
We introduced Annex F to provide guidance on tandem supervision and tandem supervision partners.
How they were developed
The Reintegration Operations Division developed these policies, in collaboration with the Strategic Policy Division, as well as in consultation with internal and external stakeholders.
Who is affected by the policies
All case management staff working in the community.
Accountabilities
Roles and responsibilities are detailed in the policy documents.
Other impacts
The amendments to the overall rating process for dynamic factors in Annex C: Rating Reassessment Framework of Commissioner’s Directive 715-1 also apply to:
- paragraph 21 of Commissioner’s Directive 705-6: Correctional Planning and Criminal Profile
- the "Level of Intervention Based on Dynamic Factors" section in Annex C of Commissioner’s Directive 710-1: Progress Against the Correctional Plan.
Contact
Strategic Policy Division
NHQ.Policy-Politiques.AC@csc-scc.gc.ca