ARCHIVED - Offender Accountability

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is the federal government agency responsible for administering sentences of a term of two years or more, as imposed by the courts. CSC is responsible for managing institutions of various security levels and supervising offenders under conditional release in the community.

Offender Accountability

Broader Application of Room and Board

CSC currently charges inmates at the top of the payscale up to $25 per week for room and board from their stipend, or inmate pay. 

Inmates who participate in programs, including employment, as identified in their correctional plan receive a stipend.  There are six stipend levels:

• Level 1 = $1.00 per day to a maximum of $10.00 every two weeks
• Level 2 = $2.50 per day to a maximum of $25.00 every two weeks
• Level 3 = $5.25 per day to a maximum of $52.50 every two weeks
• Level 4 = $5.80 per day to a maximum of $58.00 every two weeks
• Level 5 = $6.35 per day to a maximum of $63.50 every two weeks
• Level 6 = $6.90 per day to a maximum of $69.00 every two weeks

Starting next year (2013-14), all inmates at stipend levels 3 through 6 will automatically start contributing about 30% of their stipend towards room and board. 

In dollar figures, this means between $1.58 and $2.08 per day for the cost of accommodation, food, and utilities, for example.

This measure will more closely align offender contributions towards their room and board with costs that law-abiding Canadians incur for these types of expenses.

Cost savings: $4.025 million annually

Elimination of Incentive Pay

In addition to inmate pay, offenders working in CORCAN facilities have been eligible to receive additional "incentive pay" to meet production quotas. CORCAN operates in 31 institutions across Canada, in four business lines:  textiles, manufacturing, construction, and services (such as printing and laundry). CORCAN shops provide a realistic business environment, producing products and services to private sector norms and standards. Given the demand for participation in CORCAN shops, there is no need to provide “incentive pay.”

Cost savings: $1.747 million annually

Conversion to Inmate-Owned Canteens

In the past, CSC acquired canteen products such as personal hygiene items and snacks and sold them directly to inmates. Over recent years, the organization has transferred the ownership of 85% of institutional canteens to inmates. This initiative will see the remaining 15% converted to inmate ownership. CSC will retain supervision of transactions to ensure rigorous and thorough oversight.

Transferring all canteens to inmates will result in a cost-savings to CSC, and will also allow inmates to have greater influence in the administration of the canteen, which includes the creation of additional inmate jobs.

Cost savings: $1.555 million annually

Streamlining and standardizing the purchase of inmate goods from outside suppliers

Currently, if an inmate requires an item, such as those relating to personal hygiene, that is not in stock or available at the inmate canteen, they fill out a request, and a staff member goes to a store to buy it for them. There is no nationally consistent structure to the process of how and when purchase requests are received or fulfilled. 

Institutional staff are not personal shoppers.  They deserve the opportunity to focus on the very important jobs we have entrusted them to do inside the walls of the institution.

Moving forward, CSC will standardize the way inmates can purchase goods.  CSC will implement a uniform approach to procuring inmate effects by establishing a set schedule, where staff would seek products at a predetermined frequency from an established list of suppliers. Further efficiencies can also be realized where clustered institutions exist.  There will also be the option of ordering from a catalogue.

Cost savings: $1.048 million annually

Changes to the Inmate Telephone System

Managing the inmate telephone system is costly.  CSC staff are required to breakdown the costs associated with each inmate's phone usage when the monthly invoice arrives and recoup those costs.  This requires substantial time and effort on behalf of CSC staff.

We intend to ensure that these administrative costs are charged to the inmate population. You use it – you pay for it.

Cost Saving: $1.649 million annually

For further information contact:

Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657

Date modified:

2015-11-26