Policy bulletin 633

CD 705-6 – Correctional Planning and Criminal Profile
CD 710-1 – Progress Against the Correctional Plan
CD 712-1 – Pre-Release Decision-Making
CD 712-4 – Release Process
CD 715 – Community Supervision Framework
CD 715-1 – Community Supervision
CD 715-2 – Post-Release Decision Process
CD 715-3 – Community Assessments

These policies were modified to incorporate commitments made in response to the 2018 Fall Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Community Supervision, in addition to direction and/or clarification from various Interim Policy Bulletins and Case Management Bulletins, as well as a Parole Board of Canada’s (PBC) policy change.

As well, the policies have been amended to include gender inclusive language in English and other required technical amendments.

CD 705-6 was amended to strengthen the responsibility of the Parole Officer with respect to assisting offenders with obtaining missing pieces of identification (ID) from the beginning of their sentence.

Annex G of CD 705-6 formerly required the verification of current offender ID and the offender’s plan for obtaining outstanding pieces of ID as part of the Correctional Plan. For continuity purposes, policies were amended (CD 710-1, CD 712-1, CD 715-1 and CD 715-2) to ensure that, when the Correctional Plan is updated throughout the sentence, the offender’s progress in obtaining missing pieces of ID is documented. CD 705-6, CD 710-1, CD 712-1, CD 712-4, CD 715-1 and CD 715-2 have been revised to strengthen the Parole Officer’s responsibility to confirm existing ID with the offender, at various points in time during the sentence (prior to release, upon release, and post release), and provide assistance in obtaining pieces of ID.

The National Essential Health Services Framework (Appendices F and H) was added as a reference in CD 705-6, CD 712-1, CD 712-4 and CD 715-1 to guide Parole Officers in assisting offenders to obtain a provincial health card.

To ensure that actions taken by the Parole Officers to assist offenders in obtaining missing pieces of ID are documented, two new Casework Records entitled “Personal Documents – Pre-Rel” and “Personal Documents – Post-Rel” were added in the Offender Management System. The requirement to document is reflected in CD 712-1, CD 712-4 and CD 715-1.

The requirement to ensure continuity of service between the institutional and community Parole Officers for the release of the offender, including providing assistance in obtaining missing pieces of ID, was added in CD 712-4.

Furthermore, CD 705-6, CD 712-4 and CD 715-1 now include a responsibility for the Institutional Head and/or District Director to ensure procedures are in place to assist offenders in obtaining pieces of ID.

Finally, a detailed list of pieces of ID has been included in the above-noted policies to better describe what type of ID would be of assistance to offenders in obtaining services in the community.

In November 2018, the PBC broadened the scope of “other location” within its policies to include private homes and private facilities, which have not been designated as Community-Based Residential Facilities (CBRF). The definition of “other location” provided in the PBC’s Decision-Making Policy Manual was added in CD 712-1, CD 715-1, CD 715-2 and CD 715-3.

Annex C (previously Annex E) of CD 712-1 was amended to include what needs to be determined when an application for Day Parole to an other location is prepared. Annex F (previously Annex H) of CD 712-1 and Annex E of CD 715-1 were also amended to include considerations for accommodation and supervision strategies when preparing such a case.

Clarifications of the requirement for a Community Assessment for Day Parole were added in a footnote in Annex B of CD 712-1 and in paragraph 2c of CD 715-3 for instances where “other location” is being considered. Additionally, the report guide found in Annex B of CD 715-3 was expanded to include a list of considerations to assist case management staff when completing a Community Assessment. Furthermore, in CD 715-2, paragraph 6c was added to ensure that a Community Assessment is completed when Day Parole to an other location is considered as a period of transition from a CBRF. Clarification is also provided in Annex C to include the elements that need to be confirmed when the proposed accommodation is to reside at an other location while on Day Parole.

Policies have been amended to include, where appropriate, section 84.1 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA) in addition to section 84 as well as a cross-reference to the revised Guidelines (GL) 712-1-1 – CCRA Sections 84 and 84.1 Release Planning Process promulgated in August 2018.

The section on CCRA Sections 84 and 84.1 Pre Release Process was streamlined in CD 712-1 to refer to the procedures outlined in GL 712-1-1, and Annexes C and D were deleted to avoid duplication.

In addition, the definition of “Aboriginal Social History” was added to community supervision policies CD 715-2 and CD 715-3. Moreover, the “Aboriginal Social History Tool” was added as a reference in CD 715-3 to assist Parole Officers when completing Community Assessments involving Aboriginal offenders.

A responsibility was added to the Institutional Head/District Director in paragraph 1 to ensure that procedures are in place for the maintenance of Correctional Plans.

A responsibility was added to the Institutional Head/District Director in paragraph 2a to ensure adherence to procedures relating to the pre-release decision process.

Paragraph 2b was updated to ensure that procedures are in place for updating Correctional Plans for release purposes.

The process was further detailed to include the following procedures:

• Paragraph 12f was added to indicate when the completion of a Community Assessment should be considered in preparation for Day Parole.
• Paragraph 12k was elaborated to further explain when to request a Community Strategy and a Community Assessment in the case of dual destinations.

Paragraph 45 was added to ensure that automatic parole reviews for Dangerous Offenders serving an indeterminate sentence will occur in accordance with section 761 of the Criminal Code.

Paragraph 1 was amended to reflect the Institutional Head/District Director’s responsibility to facilitate the continuity of services upon release.

Paragraph 5e has been amended to exclude “timely issuance”.

Paragraph 2 has been amended to ensure that the District Director will monitor, on a monthly basis, compliance with frequency of contacts (FOC) and special conditions.

In paragraph 6c, “community case management activities” has been replaced by “community contact activities” to keep in line with the Community Staff Safety Assessment Tool.

A definition for “community contact activities” has been added to Annex A.

All references to the Community Corrections Liaison Officer (CCLO) as a result of the sunset of the program have been removed.

Clarification is provided on the FOC requirements for offenders who reside in a CBRF. Any changes to the level of intervention or program referral(s) will be documented in a Correctional Plan Update.

Amendments were warranted to paragraphs 21 and 22 to include dual status offenders held in health facilities.

Paragraphs 27 and 28 were amended to include the requirement to document the monitoring of special conditions, and the need to further document when exceptions to the FOC requirements are warranted or when requirements are not met.

Clarification is provided in paragraph 33 on where to document any security or intelligence information received through collateral contact with police.

The timeframe to complete the Casework Record has been changed from “within seven days” to “within five working days”.

Clarification is provided to ensure the need for the Parole Officer to reconfirm the availability of the community contact prior to approving travel in paragraph 45.

Paragraph 57 has been amended to reflect procedures regarding an event involving an offender with a high profile offender flag.

Definitions for “community-based residential facility”, “community residential facility”, “dual status”, and “treatment centre” were added in Annex A.

The Detention Criteria heading has been reinstated into the Assessment for Decision – Post-Suspension/Change Conditions – Report Guide in Annex B to be in line with paragraph 44 of the CD.

These policy amendments were developed by the Offender Programs and Reintegration Branch in collaboration with the Strategic Policy Division.

Please note that a broader review process is underway with regard to these policies and will include a formal internal and external consultation.

Staff responsible for institutional and community operations, supervision and/or who work in an institutional or community operational setting.

Roles and responsibilities are detailed in the policy documents.

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