For Immediate Release
Public Safety at Risk Without
Targeted Investments in Federal Corrections
Mental health initiatives, timely offender programs, and implementing measures to
address institutional violence and death must be priorities
Annual Report of the Office of the Correctional Investigator of Canada 2006-2007
OTTAWA, October 25, 2007 - Too many offenders spend their time in prison
without getting the correctional programs they need. The result is ongoing despair
and violence on the inside and increased risk of individuals re-offending once released.
According to the Annual Report of the Correctional Investigator, Canada's Corrections
Ombudsman, the federal prison system, hampered by increasingly complex demands,
has presented limited signs of progress in key areas of concern that have public
safety implications.
The Correctional Investigator's Annual Report, released today, identified 12 barriers
to public safety and made specific recommendations to the Correctional Service of
Canada and the Minister of Public Safety. "Delays in delivery of safe reintegration
programs, staff training and shortcomings in responses to serious incidents are
undermining rehabilitation and risking lives" says Correctional Investigator Howard
Sapers. "New resources may be needed in addition to ensuring priorities are addressed
within existing budgets."
Seven months after receiving a disturbing report from the Correctional Investigator
that found that some prisoners' deaths could have been averted, the Correctional
Service's performance remains largely unchanged. "For two years in a row, I made
specific recommendations to the Correctional Service to immediately improve its
investigative process and implement consistent corrective action to ensure similar
situations do not repeat themselves. The Correctional Service must do everything
possible to prevent the loss of human lives" says Mr. Sapers.
The study, submitted to the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) in February 2007,
reviewed all reported deaths in Canadian penitentiaries due to factors other than
natural causes between 2001 and 2005. The Deaths in Custody Study examined
82 suicides, homicides and accidental deaths of prisoners while in the care of the
Correctional Service during the five year period.
The study concluded that "without a comprehensive intake assessment and adequate
mental health services, care and support, some offenders will continue to fall through
the cracks." Mr. Sapers is troubled by the lack of tangible progress in the delivery
of mental health services. "Despite some short-term funding and a re-organization,
little has changed for mentally-ill offenders. The level of mental health services
has not significantly improved, and front-line institutional staff have yet to receive
training to appropriately respond to mental health-related behaviour" he says.
The Annual Report also calls upon the Correctional Service to make significant and
concrete progress in the following areas: 1) increasing delays related to the Correctional
Service's ability to provide psychological or psychiatric assessments and prescribed
programs before an offender's scheduled parole hearing dates; 2) implementing the
new Aboriginal Strategic Plan to improve the situation of Aboriginal offenders and
narrow the gap in correctional outcomes between Aboriginal and other offenders;
3) increase the number of accredited health care facilities, starting with the last
remaining regional treatment centre that continues to operate without accreditation;
and, 4) bringing the Correctional Service's internal grievance procedure into compliance
with existing law and policy, especially at the Commissioner's level.
"I know the Correctional Service can do better. Today I call upon the Commissioner
and the Minister to provide adequate resources, either through reallocation or new
funding, to enable the Service to meet its dual roles of ensuring a safe, secure
correctional environment and helping offenders safely reintegrate into our communities"
concludes Mr. Sapers.
The Correctional Investigator is mandated by an Act of Parliament to be an independent
Ombudsman for federal offenders. This work includes ensuring that systemic areas
of concern are identified and brought to the attention of those responsible for
the operations of our federal correctional system. The latest Annual Report 2006/07
is on the Correctional Investigator's Website at
www.oci-bec.gc.ca.
For further information:
Ivan Zinger, LL.B., Ph.D.
Director of Policy and Senior Counsel
Office of the Correctional Investigator
(613) 990-2690