Correctional Service of Canada responds to tabling of Bill C-56

News Release

OTTAWA, Monday, June 19, 2017 – Today, Don Head, the Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada, made the following statement on the tabling of Bill C-56 – An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and the Abolition of Early Parole:

“The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is supporting the Government of Canada in strengthening the country’s federal correctional system. I am pleased that Bill C-56 – An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and the Abolition of Early Parole is proposing important changes for the federal correctional system, including the use of administrative segregation.

These changes would include setting a “presumptive release” for offenders who are still in administrative segregation by 21 calendar days unless there is clearly identified safety risk. This would move to 15-day presumptive release 18 months after the legislation takes effect. Under this proposed legislation, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness would also appoint independent external reviewers to help ensure that administrative segregation is used only when there are no other reasonable alternatives.

The proposed legislation will reinforce a number of improvements that we have already made regarding administrative segregation. For example, we have seen a significant decrease in the use of administrative segregation over the last two years due to a revised policy framework introduced in 2015 and the introduction of new tools.

Today’s proposed legislation will anchor and sustain our efforts while also ensuring public confidence in the correctional system through independent oversight. In the meantime, we will monitor Bill C-56’s progress and ensure that updates to our policies and training are in place to support its implementation once passed in Parliament.

I believe these proposed legislative changes will strengthen the federal correctional system while maintaining the safety of our staff, offenders, institutions and the public as our paramount priority. They will also help ensure we remain accountable and transparent in our use of administrative segregation while we support offenders as they work towards rehabilitation and returning safely and successfully to the community.”

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Information:

Media Relations
Correctional Service Canada
(613) 992-7711
media@csc-scc.gc.ca  

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