COMMISSIONER'S DIRECTIVE

INMATE COUNTS AND SECURITY PATROLS

Policy Bulletin 209

[ Policy Objectives  |  Cross-References |  Definitions |  Principles |  Exemptions for Medical Conditions and Physical Limitations |  Institutional Head's Responsibilities |  Procedures for Counts |  Procedures for Patrols |  Women Offender Institutions |  Reviewing Electronic Register ]

POLICY OBJECTIVES

1. To ensure public safety and security by:

1. verifying that offenders are alive during counts and security patrols of accommodation areas in institutions and Community Correctional Centres (CCCs);
2. monitoring and verifying the whereabouts of offenders, the appropriateness of behaviour, and the security of the institution during security patrols; and
3. conducting security patrols to ensure the safety of staff, visitors, and inmates, and to promote positive informal interaction with inmates.

CROSS-REFERENCES

2. Commissioner's Directive 566 - Prevention of Security Incidents

Commissioner's Directive 006 - Classification of Institutions

Commissioner's Directive 577 - Operational Requirements for Cross-Gender Staffing in Women Offender Institutions

DEFINITIONS

3. Formal count: A process by which each inmate is assessed as alive and well and is normally counted individually, in his or her cell at medium, maximum and multi-level security institutions, using a controlled method, and resulting in an official record which is maintained. The Institutional Head may authorize exceptions (e.g., private family visits and kitchen workers). At minimum security institutions and institutions with bedrooms instead of cells, the inmates do not have to be in a room but a controlled method must be used.

4. Informal count: A process by which each inmate is counted individually without interference of activities in that area.

5. CCC count: A process by which each offender is counted, normally through sign-in procedures, and results in an official record which is maintained. Unlike formal counts, a CCC count does not require that all residents be counted at the same time. (forms CSC/SCC 1296 and 1297)

6. Stand-to count: A formal count of inmates in a standing position, facing the counting staff member to ensure facial identification is made except in cases where exemptions for medical conditions or physical limitations have been identified.

7. Security patrol: An observation by a Correctional Officer, Primary Worker or supervisor of designated areas of the institution to ensure the security of the institution and the well-being of inmates. During security patrols in accommodation areas, the presence of a live breathing body must be ensured.

PRINCIPLES

8. Inmate counts shall be conducted in the least intrusive manner possible while protecting the safety of individuals and the security of the institution.

9. Inmate counts shall be conducted in a manner that respects gender, religious and cultural considerations, in particular, with regard to religious and cultural events or ceremonies.

10. Where there are reasonable grounds to believe there is an immediate risk, the safety of individuals and the security of the institution will take precedence over cultural considerations.

EXEMPTIONS FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS

11. Inmates with medical conditions or physical limitations, deemed by the Chief of Health Services (or equivalent) as unable to respond to, or perform a stand-to-count request, are exempt from this requirement. In such cases, inmates must be awake and signal the staff member through an alternative means, normally a hand signal.

12. If a hospitalized inmate's physical condition precludes any visible response (e.g. a state of unconsciousness), health care staff will attest that the inmate is breathing.

INSTITUTIONAL HEAD'S RESPONSIBILITIES

13. The Institutional Head shall ensure that:

1. a Standing Order is in place that meets the requirements of the institution for conducting formal and informal counts and establishes procedures for discrepancies in the count;
2. at least four formal counts, one of which shall be a stand-to count, are conducted during each 24-hour period (in CCCs, at least two counts shall be conducted during each 24-hour period, one of which shall be at the commencement of the midnight shift);
3. medical/physical exemptions are shared with the applicable staff;
4. procedures are specified for counting inmates prior to the release of vehicles in situations where vehicles cannot be thoroughly searched and are not escorted;
5. that the frequency of security patrols of inmate accommodation areas and other areas of the institution are clearly defined in Standing Orders or Post Orders;
6. a formal count is conducted of inmates and their visitors occupying private family visiting units, at least four times in a 24-hour period, at times that are reasonable and respectful of inmates and their visitors (this count will be visual and without obstruction);
7. a register is maintained of all inmates who are confined to the institution (the register shall indicate the inmate's name, FPS number, and cell or bed location);
8. a list is maintained of all inmates on the register but not in the institution (i.e. inmates in outside hospital, on temporary absences, conditional release, court order, bail, unlawfully at large, or segregated in another institution);
9. a list of inmates assigned to each work or activity area is maintained and updated as required (this does not apply to CCCs);
10. appropriate action is taken, in accordance with institutional contingency plans, when an inmate is unaccounted for.

PROCEDURES FOR COUNTS

14. During counts, inmates shall be appropriately clothed and staff shall make every effort to respect the privacy and dignity of inmates.

15. All approved persons conducting counts shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure that a live body is counted (e.g., observe breathing, movement, verbal contact, etc.).

16. Institutions shall establish procedures to obtain reliable counts of inmates who are participating in sacred ceremonies. The procedures shall be developed in consultation with Elders and Aboriginal Liaison Workers to ensure that the ceremonies are not disrupted during normal operational conditions.

17. During a formal count, all inmates in medium, maximum and multi-level facilities shall return to their cells or bed locations unless otherwise prescribed in a Standing Order. Inmates shall remain in their cell or room with the door closed until the count is verified correct.

18. During a formal count, inmates shall be confined to the area where counted until the institutional count is verified correct.

19. During formal counts, each inmate shall be counted by two staff.

20. Formal counts shall be recorded in writing and signed by the staff conducting the count.

21. Discrepancies in both formal and informal counts shall be immediately reported to the officer in charge of the institution.

22. The officer in charge shall verify the count.

PROCEDURES FOR PATROLS

23. The security patrols in inmate accommodation areas shall be as frequent as possible but shall normally be once every 60 minutes at maximum, medium and multi-level institutions and the secure units at women's institutions. At minimum security institutions, healing lodges, and women's institutions other than their secure units, patrols of accommodation areas shall normally be once every two hours. Patrols shall be staggered to avoid predictability. A count is considered a security patrol.

24. Staff shall record any notable observations in an Officer's Statement/Observation Report (form CSC/SCC 0875).

25. During security patrols, the Correctional Officer, Primary Worker or Supervisor shall have a means of communicating with other staff (i.e. radio, personal portable alarm, etc.).

26. In circumstances where there exists a heightened need to observe an inmate (i.e. for safety, security, or health reasons), special procedures to be followed, including the frequency of security patrols, shall be specified and documented in the unit logbook.

WOMEN OFFENDER INSTITUTIONS

27. After curfew, until at least 0700 hours, all male staff shall for the purposes of CSC's operational requirements for cross-gender staffing in women offender institutions:

1. be paired with female staff for all security patrols in the living units; and
2. be within sight of a female staff (camera or direct observation) at all times when conducting security patrols in the secure unit or in the segregation unit.

28. Except during curfew hours, all male and female front-line staff shall announce their entry into the living units, secure unit and segregation unit.

29. The requirements of paragraphs 27 and 28 may be waived in the event of an emergency (e.g., a distress call from an inmate in a house). In such cases, if the first response is by male staff, female staff will be deployed as quickly as possible.

REVIEWING ELECTRONIC REGISTER

30. The Institutional Head shall establish in a Standing Order that the data from the electronic (and/or written) register of security patrols shall be assessed on a daily basis to determine:

1. the duration of the security patrols;
2. any patrols which were not completed;
3. any irregularities; and
4. the need for any follow-up action.

Commissioner,

Original signed by
Keith Coulter

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