Organization's Role in Public Safety

• CSC, as part of the criminal justice system and respecting the rule of law, contributes to the protection of society by actively encouraging and assisting offenders to become law-abiding citizens, while exercising reasonable, safe, secure and humane control.
• Activities supporting this role include: security, program delivery in institutions and communities, research, restorative justice, dispute resolution, public awareness, and engaging community partners (volunteers, faith communities, criminal justice and other interest groups) to assist in the safe reintegration of offenders.

Key Public Safety Activities

1. Assessment of each individual offender's risk and needs
• At intake, a comprehensive assessment is conducted using information gathered from sources including the courts, police, and community contacts.
• The result of the intake assessment is the development of a Correctional Plan. The Correctional Plan provides the basis for program involvement and release planning, and establishes a base from which to measure progress.
• Throughout an offender's sentence, ongoing assessments of an offender's progress take place. These assessments assist CSC staff in making key decisions regarding an offender's needs related to program involvement, treatment services, transfers, and conditional release planning.
• Risk continues to be monitored upon an offender's return to the community under parole officer supervision, and interventions are made when necessary to protect the public.
2. Drugs and Organized Crime
• CSC has in place a comprehensive strategy to combat drugs and organized crime, involving offender programming and security measures to address:
• the use of drugs in prisons;
• the involvement of street gangs and/or organized crime in attempts to traffick drugs in prisons; and
• the prison violence that occurs as a result of drugs and organized crime activities.
• This involves collaboration with other key agencies such as the National Parole Board, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Security and Intelligence Service, the Department of Justice, and provincial and local police forces.
3. Correctional Programs
• CSC's programs are developed based on the latest research which has proven that correctional programs are effective in reducing re-offending.
• Programs are matched to the treatment needs of offenders. Certain programs target key groups of offenders such as violent offenders, sex offenders, and those with substance abuse problems.
• Institutional and community programs are aimed at addressing the factors that contributed to criminal behaviour, thereby reducing the risk of re-offending.
4. Aboriginal Issues
• Given the disproportionate representation of aboriginal offenders in the criminal justice system, CSC provides assistance and expertise to Aboriginal communities to strengthen their capacity to develop correctional strategies and programs for successfully reintegrating Aboriginal offenders into their communities.
• CSC provides Aboriginal offenders with access to:
• Elders (traditional spiritual leaders), liaison workers and Aboriginal-specific healing programs and services; and
• Aboriginal healing lodges, constructed in collaboration with First Nation communities.
5. Services to Victims
• CSC provides information specified by law to victims and their families regarding the offender who harmed them.
• Victims who register with the CSC are notified of key developments in the offender's case, such as transfers, parole hearings and conditional releases; and, in collaboration with the National Parole Board, CSC staff facilitate the attendance of victims at National Parole Board hearings
6. Public Awareness/Community Engagement
• Many national and regional community outreach initiatives have been implemented to enhance understanding about corrections, build public confidence in CSC's programs and mandate, and encourage citizen engagement.
• CSC has an active community forum program, and has produced a Teacher's Kit and various public speaking tools. CSC's website attracts over six million hits per year.
• Approximately 10,000 volunteers are involved in a variety of CSC's activities, such as literacy training, substance abuse programs, and cultural and sporting events. In 2001, a National Volunteer Association was created to develop and maintain dialogue among volunteers, CSC, and community partners.
• There are 500 volunteer members of CSC's 75 Citizens' Advisory Committees, located in institutions and parole districts throughout Canada.