Correctional Service of Canada

Action Plan to Address the Recommendations of the OAG Performance Audit of Expanding the Capacity of Federal Penitentiaries

Last Updated: October 10, 2014

Recommendation: The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) should update its accommodation guidelines to define the requirements for specialized spaces that support the operation of its penitentiaries based on their rated capacities.

Management Response:  Agreed. CSC is fully committed to further refining its accommodation guidelines by March 31, 2015. CSC has recently updated its Technical Criteria for its correctional penitentiaries for men. The criteria define site, building performance and design guidelines which are specific to the needs of correctional penitentiaries. CSC is also in the process of completing the construction of several generic buildings as part of its expansion that include specialized spaces to address the site-specific operational needs.

In addition, it is performing a review of its operational requirements for specialized spaces across its penitentiaries with a view to creating a nationally consistent approach for any new construction as well as prioritizing future capital investments.

Update the Technical Criteria for correctional penitentiaries for men.

• The Technical Criteria document for correctional penitentiaries for men was updated and approved by CSC’s Executive Committee in November2013.

Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services

COMPLETED
November 2013

Prepare the Technical Criteria for women’s institutions.

• Finalise the draft Technical Criteria for women’s institutions.

Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services

COMPLETED

May 2014

• Presentation to the Executive Committee for approval.

Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services

COMPLETED

June 2014

Update the Accommodation Guidelines for men and women’s institutions.

• Consultations with Sectors and Regions.

Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services

SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED

Due date October 2014

• Finalize the draft Accommodation Guidelines.

Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services

SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED

Due date October 2014

• Presentation to CSC’s Executive Committee for approval.

Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services

SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED

Due date November 2014

• Finalisation and publishing of the Accommodation Guidelines.

Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services

SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED

December 2014

Complete the construction of generic buildings.

• Contracts were awarded for the construction of 29 generic buildings across the country.

Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services

COMPLETED

May 2013

• Buildings completed and in operation.

Cowansville Institution GI*

Bowden Institution GI*

Drumheller Institution GI*
(Delays due to work required to modify the power supply to new living unit)

Drumheller Institution GO*

*Generic building built inside (GI) or outside (GO) the institutional perimeter.

Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services

SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED

(26/29 buildings
March 2014)

COMPLETED

March 2014

Due date November 2014

Due date October 2014

Due date August 2014

Recommendation : CSC should define its accommodation needs to guide future investment, replacement or closure decisions for its penitentiaries, based on updated assessments of the condition of its facilities and offender population estimates.

Management Response: Agreed. CSC has committed, in its 2013-2018 Accommodation Plan, to come forward to Cabinet in 2014-2015 to seek approval of its post 2017-2018 Accommodation Plan.

As part of this process, CSC will revisit its population forecasts, the specialized accommodation needs of its custodial population as well as its community based accommodation requirements. CSC will also complete an assessment of its penitentiaries to prioritize the future capital investments to update and sustain its infrastructure.

Review of population forecasts.

• Provide revised population forecasts for inmates within institutions and offenders in the community.

Assistant Commissioner, Policy

COMPLETED

June 2014

Define sub-population management strategies.

• Presentation of recommended strategies to  CSC’s National Population Management Committee.

Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs

COMPLETED

June 2014

Assessment of the impact of the population forecasts and the sub-population management strategies in terms of accommodation requirements.

• Draft accommodation requirements based on the population forecasts, sub-population management strategies and institutional and community based capacities.

Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services

SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED

Due date October 2014

Complete building condition reviews and assessments.

• Prioritisation of investments require to update and sustain infrastructure based on its conditions.

Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services

October 2014

Prepare a revised Accommodation Plan.

• Develop draft post 2013-2018 Accommodation Plan and consult with central agencies.

Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services

October 2014

Presentation of post 2013-2018 Accommodation Plan to Cabinet.

• Memorandum to Cabinet and proposed Accommodation Plan.

Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services

December 2014

Recommendation: CSC should determine why offenders are staying longer in custody, in order to take appropriate action on managing accommodation needs and to take advantage of opportunities of lower costs.

Management Response: Agreed. CSC agrees that a review should be conducted to determine why offenders are staying longer in custody in order to take appropriate action on managing accommodation needs and to take advantage of lower cost opportunities.

CSC will undertake this review by March 31, 2015. Based on the results of the review, CSC will take appropriate action for items under its control to manage accommodation in a cost-effective manner and deliver correctional interventions to offenders that contribute to successful reintegration into the community. For CSC, public safety is the paramount consideration in the corrections process and, as such, will always take precedence over other considerations.

Undertake a review, in consultation with internal and external partners, to determine why offenders in its care are staying longer in custody:

• Final report

Assistant Commissioner, Policy

March 2015

Present findings and draft of report to CSC’s Executive Committee

• Draft report

Assistant Commissioner, Policy

February 2015

Final report reviewed by CSC senior management, revised as necessary.

• Final Report

EXCOM

March 2015

Identify lower cost accommodation  opportunities and determine which may be appropriate, feasible, and under CSC’s control.

Compile and analyze all relevant data and other information related to:

· accommodation costs in custody at all security levels;

· accommodation costs of the various community placement options;

· accommodation options and costs that may be in use in other jurisdictions but are not currently used by CSC.

• Draft report that considers all possible accommodation options for CSC’s offender population, including any options identified that are in use in other jurisdictions.

• This report will be either incorporated in or appended to the final review.

Assistant Commissioner, Policy

January 2015

Once the review is completed, CSC will take appropriate actions on recommendations that fall under its control and within its means, on managing accommodation needs and to take advantage of lower costs opportunities

• Action plan to:

Adjust and implement, where appropriate and with proper approval, the application of accommodation options.

Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs

and

Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services

TBD