Message from Mr. Howard Sapers

It is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Dr. Ivan Zinger as the Executive Director for the Office of the Correctional Investigator (OCI).  Dr. Zinger is currently Senior Counsel and Director of Policy for the OCI and will maintain his counsel responsibilities. Dr. Zinger replaces Mr. Ed McIsaac who will retire in early 2009.

I am looking forward to Dr. Zinger's contribution in his new role and know his leadership will continue the tradition of excellence established by his predecessor. As is evidenced by the attached biography, his solid professional background in the area of Corrections and human rights will continue to be an invaluable asset to the Office.

Biography

Dr. Ivan Zinger received his degree in Common Law from the University of Ottawa in 1992, completed his articles of clerkship at the Federal Court of Canada. In 1999, he obtained his Ph.D. at Carleton University (Ottawa) in Psychology of Criminal Conduct. He is a Research Adjunct Professor with the Law Department at Carleton University.

Dr. Zinger joined the Public Service of Canada in 1996, and has since then held a variety of senior policy and research positions in public safety-related federal departments and agencies. He is recognized as an expert in domestic and international human rights and prison law, and was involved in many international human rights initiatives and delegations. In 2004, he joined the Office of the Correctional Investigator (Federal Prison Ombudsman), as the Director of Policy and Senior Counsel, and has now been appointed as the new Executive Director and General Counsel for that Office.

Dr. Zinger published on various topics including ethics, human rights, dangerous offenders, correctional treatment, the diagnosis of psychopathy and penal segregation. More recently, he acted as the guest editor of a special issue of the Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice (April 2006) entitled "Prison Oversight and Human Rights."