Commissioner's directive 715-3: Community assessments
Authorities
Purpose
To ensure inmates are placed at an institution at the appropriate level of security throughout their sentence
Applications
Applies to staff involved in the review of inmate security levels
Commissioner's Directive
Contents
Responsibilities and Procedures
- For procedures regarding Post-Sentence Community Assessment Reports, refer to CD 705‑1 – Preliminary Assessments and Post-Sentence Community Assessments.
- A Community Assessment is required when:
- there is a new significant source of community information and/or support which needs to be assessed for release planning, including a temporary absence and work release location, or when the offender is in the community
- existing file information needs to be updated
- day parole to an other location is being considered
- cancellation of the suspension is being considered and the offender’s release plan is in another area
- information is required for an international transfer
- a victim wishes to provide information which would impact on the management of the case and it is agreed a Community Assessment is required.
- Information collected from significant contacts will normally be gathered through an in-person interview.
- The Parole Officer may, in consultation with the Manager, Assessment and Interventions:
- update or confirm the content of a previous Community Assessment normally through telephone contact, or
- request or complete a new Community Assessment.
- When a Community Assessment is required for multiple purposes for the same geographic location, the institutional Parole Officer will request one Community Assessment Report.
- When multiple contacts are identified in a Community Assessment request for the same geographic location, the community Parole Officer will complete one Community Assessment Report which will include all contacts. In cases where this may not be practical, more than one Community Assessment Report may be completed.
- In the case of private family visits, the Correctional Officer II/Primary Worker will determine if a Community Assessment is required pursuant to CD 710-8 – Private Family Visits.
- In all other cases where there is no release to the community (e.g. inter-regional transfer, marriage, transfer of funds), the information gathered can be documented, as applicable, in the Assessment for Decision or in a Casework Record.
Completion of the Community Assessment Report
- The Community Assessment Report will be completed as soon as possible but no later than 30 days from the date of request.
- The Community Assessment Report will be completed as outlined in Annex B or Annex C in the case of a request made pursuant to section 84.
Canadian Police Information Centre Checks
- As part of the information gathering process, the decision to conduct a Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) check should be made on a case by case basis. When deemed necessary, the Parole Officer will obtain written consent from the community contact using the Consent CPIC Clearance Request (CSC/SCC 1279-01).
- The contact will be informed of the purpose of the CPIC and that participation is voluntary. However, a refusal could impede the Parole Officer’s ability to determine whether the contact is an appropriate support for the offender.
- The completed Consent CPIC Clearance Request (CSC/SCC 1279-01) will be forwarded to the Security Intelligence Officer and/or police to verify whether the contact is known to police or identify the existence of a criminal record.
- The existence of a criminal record does not eliminate the individual as a potential source of support. Additional factors need to be taken into consideration such as the nature, number, recency of convictions, and their degree of relevance to the offender's reintegration.
Commissioner,
Original signed by:
Anne Kelly
Annex A - Cross-References and Definitions
Cross-References
- CD 001 – Mission, Values and Ethics Framework of the Correctional Service of Canada
- CD 700 – Correctional Interventions
- CD 701 – Information Sharing
- CD 702 – Indigenous Offenders
- CD 704 – International Transfers
- CD 705-1 – Preliminary Assessments and Post-Sentence Community Assessments
- CD 710-2 – Transfer of Inmates
- CD 710-3 – Temporary Absences
- CD 710-7 – Work Releases
- CD 710-8 – Private Family Visits
- CD 712-1 – Pre-Release Decision-Making
- GL 712-1-1 – CCRA Sections 84 and 84.1 Release Planning Process
- CD 715 – Community Supervision Framework
- CD 715-1 – Community Supervision
- CD 715-2 – Post-Release Decision Process
- CD 768 – Institutional Mother-Child Program
- CD 784 – Victim Engagement
- Indigenous Social History Tool
Definitions
Indigenous social history: the various circumstances that have affected the lives of most Indigenous peoples in Canada. Considering these circumstances may result in alternate options or solutions and applies only to Indigenous offenders (not to non-Indigenous offenders who choose to follow the Indigenous way of life). These circumstances include the following (note that this is not an exhaustive list):
- effects of the residential school system
- sixties scoop into the adoption system
- effects of the dislocation and dispossession of Inuit people
- family or community history of suicide
- family or community history of substance abuse
- family or community history of victimization
- family or community fragmentation
- level or lack of formal education
- level of connectivity with family/community
- experience in the child welfare system
- experience with poverty
- loss of or struggle with cultural/spiritual identity.
Day parole to an other location: a location that provides accommodation to an offender on day parole, other than a penitentiary, community-based residential facility or provincial institution, as set out in subsection 99(1) of the CCRA. This includes a private home or private facility, which has not been designated as a community-based residential facility.
Annex B - Community Assessment – Report Guide
Headings | Descriptions |
---|---|
Reasons for Community Assessment:
|
|
Indigenous social history (if applicable) |
During the interview, discuss and identify any information that can contribute to the understanding of Indigenous offenders’ social history, including any culturally specific resources which may contribute to their overall reintegration. This information is to be presented in heading # 7. |
1. Notification to third party Complete for all Community Assessment types | Persons contacted to be advised that the information they provide will be shared with the offender. Should the identity of the contact require protection, the information will be documented in a Protected Information Report. The contact will be informed that a summary or “gist” of any information disclosed will be provided to the offender if this information is to be used in the decision making process. Refer to CD 701 – Information Sharing for the specific procedures regarding the collection of information from external sources. |
2. Source of information Complete for all Community Assessment types |
For each contact:
|
3. Offender’s relationship with the contact or significant others Complete, as applicable, to the Community Assessment type | Based on information provided by the contact, provide an assessment of :
|
4. Contributing factors Complete for the following:
|
Contact’s comments on:
Parole Officer’s assessment of:
|
5. Information regarding the request
|
Work Release Provide an assessment of:
Include:
Private Family Visits Provide information regarding the contact’s eligibility and interest to participate in private family visits, issues related to family violence and concerns regarding child safety. If not already submitted, obtain completed forms Declaration of Common-law Union (CSC/SCC 0530E) and Statement of Voluntary Participation and Consent for Private Family Visits (CSC/SCC 0531) and collect photographs from all participants. Information regarding the contact’s requirements (medication, accommodations, specific goods, etc.) will be collected, but not documented in the Community Assessment. this information will be shared with the institutional Parole Officer to ensure security measures can be initiated as required. Institutional Mother-Child Program (residential component) Provide:
Day Parole to an other location Based on the information provided by the community contact, provide an assessment incorporating the following elements, as applicable:
Cancellation of Suspension
International Transfer Based on information provided by the contact, in order to satisfy legislative factors outlined in section 10 of the International Transfer of Offenders Act for the Minister’s consideration, assess by discussing and documenting the following information: Public Safety:
Abandonment/Citizenship
Family and Social Ties
Human Rights
Offender’s Health
Program Participation
Responsibility and Harm to Victims
Cooperation
Breach of Trust/Affiliations
|
6. Police or other official information Complete, as required, for the following:
|
Provide an overview of information obtained from criminal justice partners (Social Services, probation, police, community residential facilities, etc.). For offenders who are planning a release to an Indigenous governing body and do not have an identified plan pursuant to section 84 or section 84.1 of the CCRA, consultation with Band members/Council/Justice Committee, etc. should be considered to confirm whether release to the community is supported. The Consent for Disclosure of Personal Information – (Inmate) (CSC/SCC 0487) is required prior to consultation. In the case of international transfers, include any police information on the offender related but not limited to existing criminal record, outstanding charges, warrants, etc. |
7. Indigenous social history (if applicable) |
Based on the information provided by the contact, provide a summary of any information that can contribute to the understanding of an Indigenous offender’s social history, including availability or past utilization of any Indigenous governing body resources which may serve to enhance the offender’s eventual reintegration. |
8. Overall assessment Complete for all Community Assessment types |
Provide an overall assessment of the contact, level of community support available, impact on the offender’s reintegration potential and level of engagement. For international transfers, provide factual and objective information and do not provide opinions, views and recommendations with respect to the application itself. |
Annex C - Section 84 Community Assessment – Report Guide
- Notification to third party
- Sources of information
- Name of community
- Organization (e.g. Community Service, Justice Committee, Band Council, Mayor)
- Government structure (i.e., elected or hereditary)
- Offender’s relationship with the community or significant others
Based on information provided by the community, provide an assessment of:
- the nature of the relationship between the offender and community (offender is a member of the band/organization)
- the history of criminal behaviour
- the degree of support the community is prepared to offer to the offender regarding their reintegration in the community (in the present and in the future), as well as the reliability of the information obtained
- the offender’s social network
- the offender’s relationship with peers or significant others
- victim concerns.
- The community perspective of contributing factors
Based on information provided by the community, where relevant, provide an assessment of:
- the criminal behaviour and factors likely to contribute to the safe reintegration of the offender in the community:
- offender’s employment history (pattern of employment and job satisfaction)
- offender’s substance abuse history
- offender’s attitude towards accepted social values and their views on living a law-abiding lifestyle
- influences associates may have over the offender
- offender’s personality (e.g., impulsive, empathetic, sensation seeking, manipulative)
- pattern such as aggression, assertion, coping mechanisms or frustration tolerance
- offender’s sexual dysfunction
- offender's mental health
- the offender’s childhood, including whether the family unit had a negative or positive influence on the offender
- the offender’s experience as a residential school survivor (including whether or not the offender was inter-generationally impacted)
- the factors that represent the offender’s strengths likely to contribute to their reintegration
- the interest of the community in participating in a community hearing and/or restorative justice process.
- the criminal behaviour and factors likely to contribute to the safe reintegration of the offender in the community:
- Reintegration plan
Where relevant, provide an assessment of:
- programs accessible in the community to address what seems to be the offender’s contributing factors
- employment opportunities and training
- spiritual resources (e.g. longhouse, sweat lodge, sundance)
- availability of social services and/or traditional approaches to healing for problems with drug, alcohol, mental health, etc.
- the capacity and concerns regarding the supervision and reporting of offender by the community
- the community’s ability to assist the offender in the participation/completion of community programs
- the leisure activities and awareness/use of social/community services by the Indigenous governing body and the offender
- the relevance of offender’s release plan(s), and suggestions for additions or alternatives to the plans with a corresponding rationale
- the dynamic contributing factors to be addressed prior to release (order of priority of the dynamic factors)
- the agreement of the community to participate pursuant to section 84 or section 84.1.
- Overall assessment
The Indigenous Community Development Officer must examine all information obtained in the other sections and summarize their opinion on the community support available.
Persons contacted to be advised that the information they provide will be shared with the offender. Should the identity of the contact require protection, the information will be documented in a Protected Information Report. The contact will be informed that a summary or “gist” of any information disclosed will be provided to the offender if this information is to be used in the decision making process.
Refer to CD 701 – Information Sharing for the specific procedures regarding the collection of information from external sources.
Indicate if the report is completed for an offender’s new source of support or a Community Assessment update.
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