For Immediate Release
Correctional Service of Canada's Latest Response to Ashley Smith Recommendations is Improving, but Efforts to Date have not Translated into Desired Results
OTTAWA, December 18, 2009 – The Ombudsman
for Canada's federal prison system, Mr. Howard Sapers, today issued his second
quarterly assessment of the Correctional Service's progress in preventing
deaths in custody. "The Correctional Service has engaged in a flurry of activities,
but sadly, the number of deaths in custody and serious self-harm incidents have
increased since last year,"said Mr. Sapers.
To increase accountability and keep the public and the Minister of Public Safety
informed, the Office of the Correctional Investigator (OCI)
is issuing quarterly reports on the progress that the Correctional Service of Canada
(CSC) is making in addressing
recommendations from the 2007 Deaths in Custody Study and the 2008 report
into the death of Ashley Smith, A Preventable Death, as well as the Correctional
Service's own National Board of Investigation into Ms. Smith's death.
The Office issued its Initial Assessment of
CSC's Response in September 2009.
Over the last fiscal year, the Correctional Investigator notes that the number of
non-natural deaths in federal correctional custody has increased by 70%; the number
of offender placements in segregation remains at an all-time high; the number of
self-injurious incidents is on the rise and perceived security needs too often trump
necessary clinical interventions. Too many offenders with mental health issues
are subject to unnecessary use of force interventions or involuntary placements
in segregation. Overall, use of force incidents increased nearly 30% over
last year.
"Two years ago Ms. Smith died in a segregation cell and the Correctional Service
accepted the challenge to change the conditions and factors that contributed to
her death" said Mr. Sapers. "It is time for the Correctional Service
to demonstrate to Canadians that it can deliver good correctional results by reducing
deaths in custody, reducing self-injurious behaviour and providing appropriate mental
health care to federal offenders," added the Correctional Investigator.
Today, Mr. Sapers sent a letter to the Commissioner of Corrections (available at
www.oci-bec.gc.ca) recommending that the
Correctional Service publicly report on key performance indicators that could be
used to demonstrate that its efforts are paying real dividends. These performance
indicators would include positive gains in the following areas:
- Segregated inmates with significant mental health issues that have been moved into
alternative custody arrangements.
- Comprehensive clinical treatment plans (integrating clinical, security and program
needs) developed and implemented by institutional inter-disciplinary teams, and
shared with front-line staff as appropriate.
- Comprehensive clinical treatment plans developed by
MTAC (Mobile Interdisciplinary Treatment Assessment and Consultation Team),
fully implemented by institutional inter-disciplinary teams.
- Improvement in vacancy rates for mental health professionals and reduction in the
number of under-filled positions.
- Increased direct (e.g. face-to-face) contacts between mental health professionals
and segregated inmates.
- Reduction in the use of force interventions involving offenders with serious mental
health problems.
- Policy compliance regarding notification to and response of health care staff or
other emergency responders to medical emergencies, including initiation of CPR and
use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AED).
Reporting on the above performance indicators will measure, in an open and transparent
way, the Correctional Service's progress in addressing the recommendations
that flowed from important reports on preventable deaths in custody. The Correctional
Service must demonstrate whether its investments and efforts are translating into
improved performance and saving lives.
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 addressed. The
OCI reports cited in this release and the latest letter to the Commissioner
of Corrections are available at www.oci-bec.gc.ca.
-30-
For further information:
Ivan Zinger, LL.B., Ph.D.
Executive Director and General Counsel
Office of the Correctional Investigator
(613) 990-2690 or ivan.zinger@oci-bec.gc.ca