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COMMISSIONER'S DIRECTIVE
SPECIAL HANDLING UNIT
Issued under the authority of the Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada |
[Policy Objective | Authorities | Cross-References | Special Handling Unit Objectives | SHU Advisory Committee | Transfer to Special Handling Unit | Assessment Period in the Special Handling Unit | Transfer from the Special Handling Unit | Program Scope of Special Handling Unit | Control]
1. To define the criteria and decision-making processes for the admission, the treatment and the release of an offender assigned to the Special Handling Unit to ensure public, staff and offender safety.
2. Sections 28 and 29 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and sections 11 to 16 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Regulations.
3. Commissioner's Directive 540 - Transfer of Offenders;
Commissioner's Directive 006 - Classification of Institutions;
Standard Operating Practises 700-15 -Transfer of Offenders.
Commissioner's Directive 803 - Consent to Health Services Assessment, Treatment and Release of Information.
SPECIAL HANDLING UNIT OBJECTIVES
4. The Service shall operate a unit at the Regional Reception Centre in Ste-Anne-des-Plaines, Quebec with programs designed specifically to assess and address the needs of offenders who pose a danger to staff, inmates or any other persons.
5. The purpose of the Special Handling Unit shall be to assist the offender to modify his behaviour. His behaviour should become pro-social so that he may be transferred to and safely integrated in a maximum-security institution.
6. A SHU Advisory Committee shall be established, comprised of a senior manager, who is from a region other than Quebec, as the Senior Advisor; the Special Handling Unit Clinical Coordinator as permanent Secretary; and at least two Institutional Heads of maximum-security institutions, from two different regions.
7. A person external to the Service shall be appointed as a member of the SHU Advisory Committee, pursuant to paragraph 4 (f) of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.
8. The SHU Advisory Committee shall be authorized to make recommendations to the Senior Deputy Commissioner or his/her alternate as designated by the Commissioner on:
- which offenders shall remain in the Special Handling Unit, based on the assessment that the offender can be most effectively managed in that unit; and
- the transfer of an offender from the Special Handling Unit.
9. The offender shall be advised of his right to be interviewed by two members of the SHU Advisory Committee prior to their review.
10. The offender may submit written representations to the SHU Advisory Committee and the Senior Deputy Commissioner or his/her alternate.
11. At least five calendar days in advance of the attendance of the SHU Advisory Committee at the Special Handling Unit, the offender shall be provided notice of the date and time of the meeting.
12. The SHU Advisory Committee shall maintain an official record of the decision taken, and rationale, for each case that is reviewed.
13. The SHU Advisory Committee shall submit quarterly reports to the Senior Deputy Commissioner or his/her alternate.
14. The SHU Advisory Committee shall also oversee and monitor the operations of the Special Handling Unit and recommend any changes as appropriate. The Committee shall present its observations and recommendations to the Commissioner in an annual report at the end of every fiscal year.
TRANSFER TO SPECIAL HANDLING UNIT
15. The case of any offender who causes or commits an act causing serious harm or death shall be automatically reviewed by the Regional Deputy Commissioner for admission to the Special Handling Unit for assessment.
16. Any offender who causes or commits, or one has reason to believe has committed an act of violence, who makes serious threats, or who otherwise shows a propensity for serious violence may be considered by the Regional Deputy Commissioner for transfer to the Special Handling Unit for assessment.
17. The determination that an offender should be admitted to the Special Handling Unit may be based on a single significant behaviour or on a series of violent behaviours.
18. Only in exceptional circumstances should offenders be transferred to the Special Handling Unit within 6 months of their release on either Statutory Release or Warrant Expiry Date.
19. Following a review as described in paragraphs 15 and 16, the Deputy Commissioner of the region in which the offender is incarcerated is authorized to transfer the offender to the Special Handling Unit for assessment.
20. The Regional Deputy Commissioner shall ensure that any transfer to the Special Handling Unit is in accordance with the policy on involuntary transfers for assessment purposes as outlined in Commissioner's Directive 540, "Transfer of offenders".
21. The Senior Deputy Commissioner or his/her alternate shall make the final decision on an offender's placement to the Special Handling Unit.
22. All decisions relating to transfers of offenders made by the Senior Deputy Commissioner or his/her alternate shall be in accordance with Commissioner's Directive 540, "Transfer of Offenders".
ASSESSMENT PERIOD IN THE SPECIAL HANDLING UNIT
23. Each offender transferred to the Special Handling Unit shall undergo a comprehensive assessment to determine an appropriate intervention strategy and the required level of control. The comprehensive assessment shall include psychological and psychiatric components as stipulated in paragraph 24.
24. Each offender transferred to the Special Handling Unit shall undergo an initial screening assessment by the psychologist. Based on this assessment, the psychologist shall come to one of the following conclusions:
- no further assessments are required;
- the offender shall undergo a psychological assessment (this may include consultation between the psychologist and psychiatrist, as required, but shall not result in a psychiatric assessment); or
- the offender shall undergo both psychological and psychiatric assessments.
25. The results of the psychological and/or psychiatric assessment may include a referral for admission to a psychiatric or treatment centre, when the offender meets the criteria for placement in a maximum-security institution.
26. For each offender transferred to the Special Handling Unit, the psychologist shall clearly record the rationale in determining the required psychological and/or psychiatric assessments.
27. An Assessment and Program Committee shall be established in the Special Handling Unit, and this committee shall oversee the development of treatment plans and recommend their approval to the SHU Advisory Committee.
28. A detailed correctional treatment plan, to specifically address the offender's violent behaviour, as well as other criminogenic factors, shall be prepared as a result of the assessment. The plan shall include a recommendation as to the institution, treatment facility, or special unit in which the intervention strategy would be most effective.
29. Within four months of the offender's transfer to the unit, a comprehensive assessment (which will include the required psychological and/or psychiatric assessments and the correctional treatment plan) shall be reviewed by the SHU Advisory Committee.
30. Upon review of the proposed treatment plan, the Advisory Committee shall recommend to the Senior Deputy Commissioner or his/her alternate if the offender shall be admitted to the Special Handling Unit or be transferred to another more appropriate facility. Any extension of the assessment period shall be submitted to the Senior Deputy Commissioner for approval.
TRANSFER FROM THE SPECIAL HANDLING UNIT
31. The Senior Deputy Commissioner or his/her alternate shall be the final decision-maker for transfers from the Special Handling Unit. Transfer warrants out of the Special Handling Unit shall be signed by the Senior Deputy Commissioner or his/her alternate.
32. Correctional planning will aim to prepare offenders to meet the expectations of correctional regimes outside of the Special Handling Unit.
PROGRAM SCOPE OF SPECIAL HANDLING UNIT
33. The objective of programming within the Special Handling Unit shall be the safe return of the offender to a maximum-security institution at the most opportune time.
34. Programming within the Unit shall be designed to assist the offender in addressing his need to change his behaviour, as well as to actively encourage him to participate in constructive activities and demonstrate increasing capacity to interact with others.
35. The following shall be considered as essential programming components:
- treatment programs;
- psychiatric and psychological intervention;
- employment opportunities;
- personal development opportunities;
- recreational opportunities; and
- pastoral counselling.
36. The Assessment and Program Committee of the Unit shall be responsible for monitoring the progress of the offender in accordance with the intervention strategy. The offender's progress and recommendations from the Assessment and Program Committee shall be forwarded to the SHU Advisory Committee for its consideration. Upon review of the proposed treatment plan and no less than once every four months, the Advisory Committee shall recommend to the Senior Deputy Commissioner or his/her alternate if the offender shall remain in the Special Handling Unit or be transferred to another more appropriate facility.
37. The offender's progress shall be assessed on the basis of his participation in the recommended programming and his success in addressing identified needs.
38. The environment created in the Unit shall be such that:
- staff/offender interaction is to be encouraged in an environment that utilizes a minimum of physical separations;
- controls are no more restrictive than those required to ensure a necessary level of safety for staff and offenders;
- any restriction imposed on the freedom of movement or association of an offender will be gradually reduced as the offender demonstrates more responsible behaviour.
Original signed by
Don Head, A/Commissioner
