SIU Authorizations: October 1st, 2022 to March 31st, 2023 (Quarterly Report Q3 & Q4)
Research Highlights: SIU authorizations fluctuated by month and varied by region. Authorizations were most often precipitated by offender safety concerns.
Background
Structured Intervention Units (SIUs) were incorporated into the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) on November 30th, 2019. Such units are intended to provide intervention-focused accommodations to offenders who cannot be safely managed in the mainstream offender population. Since implementation, several improvements have been made to the SIU record management system so as to contribute to accurate and detailed reporting. The current report examines trends in SIU authorizations between October 1st, 2022 and March 31st, 2023 (two fiscal quarters) as part of a series highlighting trends in SIUs.
Publication
RIB-23-22
2023
Research in Brief - PDF
SIU Authorizations: October 1st, 2022 to March 31st, 2023 (Quarterly Report Q3 & Q4)
Overview of Authorizations
Between October 1st, 2022 and March 31st, 2023, there was a total of 1,199 authorizations to an SIU, with a monthly average of 200 authorizations (representing approximately 1.6% of the in-custody population). By comparison, the monthly average was 146 in the first half of 22/23, 120 in FY 21/22 and 189 in FY 20/21.
Counts fluctuated during the most recent period, with a low 173 in October and a high of 245 in March (See Table 1). Authorizations were most common in the Quebec region (33%, representing 2.40% of the in-custody population in this region) and least common in the Pacific and Atlantic regions (12% in both regions, representing 1.46% and 2.09% of the in-custody populations in each region).
Authorization Reason
In the current reporting period, 46% of authorizations were justified under 34.1 A (security) of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA), while 50% were justified under 34.1 B (safety). Authorizations justified under 34.1 C (investigation) remained uncommon (i.e., accounting for 4% of cases).
There was regional variation with respect to trends in reason (e.g., 34.1 A authorizations were most common in Quebec; See Table 2).
| Month | Region | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | Quebec | Ontario | Prairie | Pacific | ||
| Oct. | 29 | 61 | 41 | 26 | 16 | 173 |
| Nov. | 19 | 42 | 45 | 36 | 37 | 179 |
| Dec. | 29 | 68 | 45 | 39 | 23 | 204 |
| Jan. | 16 | 79 | 54 | 48 | 26 | 223 |
| Feb. | 22 | 54 | 36 | 46 | 17 | 175 |
| Mar. | 30 | 88 | 59 | 42 | 26 | 245 |
| Total | 145 | 392 | 280 | 237 | 145 | 1199 |
| Reason | Region | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | Quebec | Ontario | Prairie | Pacific | ||
| 34.1 A | 55 | 226 | 101 | 98 | 74 | 554 |
| 34.1 B | 80 | 166 | 150 | 136 | 71 | 603 |
| 34.1 C | 10 | - | 29 | 3 | - | 42 |
| Total | 145 | 392 | 280 | 237 | 145 | 1199 |
Discussion
SIU authorization counts continue to fluctuate by month and are shaped by regional variation. Ongoing monitoring and reporting of SIU trends promotes a cumulative knowledge base to inform operational practices.
Prepared by: The Special Projects and Data Management (SPDM) Team of the CSC Research Branch.
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