COVID-19 Planning for Federal Corrections

Date: May 11, 2020
Classification: Unclassified
Branch / Agency: CSC

Issue: The media are reporting that COVID-19 is being spread in the Correctional Service of Canada’s institutions. Currently, across the country, there are 129 active cases of COVID-19 in three out of CSC’s 43 institutions, namely, Mission Institution in the Pacific Region; and the Federal Training Centre and Port-Cartier Institution in the Quebec Region. There are no identified cases in the Atlantic, Ontario and the Prairie Regions.

Proposed Response:

Background: The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is focusing its efforts on minimizing the risk of spreading COVID-19 to institutions. CSC has strengthened infection and prevention procedures to protect staff, offenders, and volunteers. CSC is also working with inmates to review existing treatment plans with a particular focus on older offenders and those more vulnerable due to pre-existing underlying health issues.

CSC is assessing any offenders exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Symptomatic individuals that meet public health criteria will be tested, provided with immediate clinical interventions as required, and CSC will contact local public health. CSC is collaborating with provincial and territorial public health laboratories to ensure that persons under investigation for COVID-19 are confirmed or ruled out through laboratory testing. Additionally, inmates are being kept informed through regular communiques.

CSC is continuing ongoing communications with staff, inmates, and visitors on preventative measures consistent with public health guidance, including hygiene practices, physical distancing and increased signage.

Current Measures

CSC is focusing on critical operations. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, in all of our institutions, CSC has temporarily suspended visits to inmates, all temporary absences (unless medically necessary), work releases for offenders, and all inter-regional and international transfers of inmates. This will be reassessed on an ongoing basis as the situation evolves.

CSC has also enhanced cleaning protocols, including disinfecting common areas and high-contact surfaces. We continue to educate staff and offenders around prevention and the spread of illness, including the importance of good hygiene practices through posters, fact sheets, and ongoing written and verbal communication. Direction was provided to staff on the type of cleaning to be undertaken in institutions on a regular basis and when a COVID-19 case is either suspected or confirmed.

In addition, sites must implement droplet and contact precautions when a staff member is within two meters of an inmate who is under investigation for COVID-19. This includes the use of gowns, gloves, face shields, and masks for all staff. Inmates are also being provided with masks.  

On the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Environmental Health audits, CSC is working with PHAC and local health departments and community experts to have independent, expert-led audits completed in all of its facilities.

Release of Offenders

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) and the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) are working collaboratively to facilitate the safe release of federal inmates into the community with public safety being paramount in all discretionary release decisions. As mandated by the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA), all releases to the community happen within existing authorities.

CSC and PBC continue to process eligible inmates for release in accordance with the law. A number of considerations go into release decision-making with public safety being the paramount consideration. COVID-19 and other health related issues are only one of the many considerations taken into account when releasing offenders into the community so it is not possible to provide a number offenders who have been released solely due to COVID-19.  Below is data on releases for the past period.

In response to the pandemic, CSC has been proactively reviewing eligible non-violent lower risk inmates and referring them to the PBC for consideration, including those with underlying medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19.  As noted by the PBC on their website, they will consider the offender’s health or health risk posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, if relevant as part of the risk assessment, along with all other information on file. 

CSC and PBC have worked to streamline the case preparation process for offenders. In addition, PBC is working to ensure cases are dealt with as expeditiously as possible, using risk- and evidence-based decision-making.

On average, 600 offenders are released a month. This occurs, through parole, statutory release, or expiration of sentence. Since the beginning of March 2020, the federal custody population has declined by 338 inmates, more than the average size of two minimum-security facilities. This reduction is the result of fewer admissions from the provinces and territories coupled with continued releases into the community. In March 2020, there were 626 federal inmates released across Canada. So far, in the month of April (as of the 26th), 434 inmates were released from custody nationally.

CSC is also working with the PBC to identify offenders already released in the community and those who may become eligible for release, who can reside in a family home, as opposed to a community residential facility, when it is a safe and viable option.

We are engaging with our community partners on an ongoing basis to ensure that offenders on conditional release have a safe, secure and supportive environment to which they can return. This is an important part of any safe and successful release into the community.

Cases among Inmates

As of May 10, 2020, 202 inmates have recovered from COVID-19 and there are 129 active positive cases of COVID-19. At Joliette, all women have recovered, yet three women continue to test positive.  All inmates at Grand Valley Institution have recovered. Port-Cartier has active cases but all 5 inmates are now asymptomatic but continue to test positive. Finally, the Federal Training Centre continues to have active cases, with 61 pending results. To date, two inmates have passed away; one at Mission and one at the Federal Training Centre. As of May 10, in terms of staff, 121 have tested positive and 83 have now recovered.  On May 6, 2020, Archambault Institution’s medium-security unit, a facility in the Quebec Region, was placed in lockdown as a precautionary measure after two employees tested positive for COVID-19.

Victim Consideration

Case Management Teams have been instructed to ensure continued consideration of victim concerns into decision-making, and continued notification to victims, thereby upholding the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights.

As per CD 784, Parole Officers must notify the Victim Services Unit when beginning case preparation for CSC/PBC-authority release decisions and request to obtain victim information as well as any victim statements, and take victim considerations into account in release planning and recommendations for decision. They must also notify Victim Services Unit of changes in offenders’ circumstances for which notification may be required.

Preventative Measures

In addition to working to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our sites, CSC is simultaneously working to ensure readiness. CSC has well established infection and prevention guidelines and seasonal flu procedures, which are the foundation of our response. In addition, some of CSC’s planning highlights include:

In support of readiness planning, CSC is actively engaging with the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health and their Special Advisory Committee. CSC is also in regular bilateral contact with Public Health Agency of Canada to review elements of our planning and receive expert feedback as required.

Contacts:
Prepared by: Jessica Martineau, Officer Parliamentary Relations, 613-943-1726
Approved by: Kirstan Gagnon, Assistant Commissioner, Communications & Engagement, 613-995-6867

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