COMMISSIONER'S DIRECTIVE

MANAGEMENT OF SECURITY INCIDENTS

Policy Bulletin 180

POLICY OBJECTIVES

1. To ensure the safety of staff, the public and the inmates.

2. To ensure a respectful environment that promotes ongoing dynamic interaction between staff and inmates.

3. To return the institution, after an incident, to an environment that encourages inmates to actively participate in programs and is conducive to the implementation of their correctional plan.

4. To ensure that the importance of effective leadership and learning (training and development) are reflected in security policies and practices.

AUTHORITIES

5. Corrections and Conditional Release Act, ss. 4, 31-37, 38-44, 68 and 97;
Corrections and Conditional Release Regulations, ss. 19-23;
Criminal Code of Canada, ss. 25-27, 34, 35, 37, 67, 69, 92(1)(b), 98(1)(b), 117.07, 494 and 495.

DEFINITION

6. Medical emergency: an injury or condition that poses an immediate threat to a person's health or life which requires medical intervention.

PRINCIPLES

7. All procedures related to this policy shall be carried out in order to promote a safe and secure environment, while respecting the rule of law.

8. All interventions designed to manage or control situations that jeopardize the security of an institution shall:

1. encourage the peaceful resolution of the incident using verbal intervention and negotiation;
2. be consistent with the Situation Management Model;
3. be based on the safest and most reasonable measures appropriate to prevent, respond, and resolve the situation; and
4. be adapted to respond to changes in the situation.

9. No person shall ever consent to or take part in any cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment of an inmate.

MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL FRAMEWORK

10. The management and control of situations shall be accomplished through a framework which includes but is not limited to:

1. the use of force, ensuring that the response and the manner in which force is used are appropriate and in accordance with CSC policy and applicable legislation (CD 567 1);
2. the use of alarms and responding to alarms to provide a secure environment and ensure the protection of staff, inmates, visitors and the public (CD 567 2);
3. the appropriate use of restraint equipment to ensure the safety of the inmate and the institution (CD 567 3);
4. the safe and secure use of chemical agents and inflammatory sprays when required (CD 567 4); and
5. the use of firearms as a last resort to protect the lives of staff, other inmates and the public (CD 567 5).

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

11. The Commissioner or his/her delegate has the authority to provide both verbal and written direction with regards to safety and security within the Service.

12. The Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs shall ensure that:

1. policies in support of this directive are clear, relevant, timely and accurate and are developed with the input of correctional staff;
2. policies promote a safe and secure correctional environment; and
3. policies are applied in a consistent manner nationally.

13. The Director General, Security is designated to be the Senior Correctional Service of Canada authority on safety and security issues within the Service.

14. The Director General, Security shall ensure that:

1. all security procedures are conducted in compliance with the law and policies and are knowledge and research-based;
2. policies are effectively communicated to regions;
3. advice to regions and institutions is provided effectively; and
4. any issues arising from security policies, their procedures or implementation will be reviewed and addressed in a timely manner.

15. The Regional Deputy Commissioners shall ensure that:

1. policies are effectively communicated to operational units;
2. support to operational units is effectively provided;
3. any issues arising from security policies, their procedures or implementation are reported in a timely manner to the Director General, Security, National Headquarters; and
4. operational reviews of policies and procedures are conducted on a regular basis.

16. The Institutional Head and District Director shall be responsible for:

1. implementing policies;
2. managing challenges as they arise in such a way as to return the institution to a safe and secure environment as soon as possible;
3. ensuring that all staff are properly equipped and trained in their duties; and
4. establishing a process to monitor compliance and the effective implementation of these policies.

17. Staff shall ensure that:

1. they know and understand the applicable law, policies and procedures;
2. they demonstrate fairness, judgement and professionalism in returning the institution to a safe and secure environment;
3. they take every reasonable step to return the institution to a safe and secure environment as soon as possible when they become aware of any situation which, in their opinion, jeopardizes the safety of the institution or anyone in it;
4. they interact positively and constructively with other staff and inmates; and
5. they resolve conflicts and problems at the lowest level possible.

MEDICAL EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

18. In responding to a medical emergency, the primary goal is the preservation of life and each staff member has an important role to play:

1. staff arriving on the scene of a possible medical emergency must immediately call for assistance, secure the area and initiate CPR/first aid without delay;
2. responding staff must attempt CPR/first aid where physically feasible even in cases where signs of life are not apparent (the decision to discontinue CPR/first aid can be taken only by authorized health personnel or the ambulance service in accordance with provincial laws);
3. staff must use approved protective equipment when administering CPR/first aid;
4. once initiated, staff will continue to perform CPR until relieved by Health Services staff or the ambulance service;
5. as soon as a possible medical emergency is identified, the Correctional Supervisor or officer-in-charge must notify Health Services and the ambulance service in accordance with the Institutional Contingency Plan, Standing Orders or Post Orders;
6. the Correctional Supervisor or officer-in-charge must immediately establish appropriate security for responding staff and the ambulance service;
7. once on the scene, Health Services or the ambulance service shall be responsible for determining the medical response to the situation;
8. correctional staff on the scene will continue to provide assistance as directed by Health Services or the ambulance service;
9. the Institutional Head shall ensure all staff have ready access to necessary protective and first aid equipment in all work locations;
10. all correctional officers shall be issued approved protective masks and gloves that must be carried on their person; and
11. the Institutional Head shall ensure that debriefings occur immediately following a medical emergency and offer Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) to all staff involved in the incident as set out in the Guidelines on Critical Incident Stress Management and within two working days.

19. The Institutional Head must ensure there are quarterly on-site simulations of medical emergencies that will allow staff to practice and remain current in skills. The scenarios used for the medical emergency exercises shall be developed in consideration of the particular institution's circumstances relating to the availability of medical resources within the community and will emphasize the specific needs of the midnight shift.

SITUATION MANAGEMENT MODEL

20. The model (see Annex A) is a graphic representation used to assist staff in determining the correct response options to be used in managing security situations. The purpose of these options is to maintain a safe environment in our institutions and to protect the public, staff and inmates by controlling inmates using the safest and most reasonable responses to the situation.

ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION

21. Each situation will be assessed in terms of the CAPRA problem-solving model.

22. This acronym refers to:

• Client;
• Acquiring and Analysing;
• Partnership;
• Response;
• Assessment.

23. The model facilitates the acquisition and analysis of client and situational information, and the consideration, through partners, of response strategies. Continual assessment of the effectiveness of the response is an integral aspect of the CAPRA process.

24. The inmate's current behaviour, situational factors (e.g., location, presence of weapons, other inmates, etc.), tactical considerations (past behaviour, size of inmate, skill of officer, availability of backup, etc.) and the risk relating to the incident shall be assessed on an ongoing basis.

25. Responses to the situation shall be reformulated to reflect any significant changes, and the risk the new situation represents. Every situation shall be managed using the safest and most reasonable response appropriate to the incident.

26. When necessary and possible, staff members shall consider isolating, containing, withdrawing, reassessing and re-planning their response option so that the most appropriate response is implemented. The effectiveness of previous interventions shall be part of this ongoing assessment.

INMATE BEHAVIOUR

27. Cooperative - There is no verbal or physical resistance. The inmate responds to staff presence, verbal communication and complies voluntarily with verbal commands or orders.

28. Verbally Resistive - The inmate may display behaviours that include, but are not limited to, verbal assaults, profanity, taunts, or refusal to communicate with staff. However, the inmate does comply with verbal orders.

29. Physically Uncooperative - The inmate refuses to comply with staff directions or orders or refuses to move from an area or leave a cell. The inmate may offer active physical, but not assaultive, resistance by pulling or running away or resisting staff attempts to move him or her to a standing position.

30. Assaultive - The inmate threatens verbally, or implies through physical behaviours, actions or gestures, the intent to apply force to harm or injure another person. The inmate, directly or indirectly, applies force against another person in a manner that causes or has the potential to cause harm or injury.

31. Shows Potential to Cause Grievous Bodily Harm or Death - The inmate displays behaviour that lead the staff to reasonably believe that such behaviour could or will result in grievous bodily harm or death to another person or himself/herself.

32. Escape - Any act or attempted act to breach (break) prison, escape from lawful custody, or without lawful excuse be at large before the expiration of a term of imprisonment to which that person has been sentenced.

SELECTION OF APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

33. The appropriate management strategies shall be chosen following the initial and ongoing assessment of the situation as detailed in paragraphs 21 through 26.

34. Strategies may include, but are not limited to, use of front-line staff, unit teams, extraction teams, crisis negotiators, emergency response teams, crisis management teams, police or military assistance.

VERBAL INTERVENTION, CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND NEGOTIATION

35. Whenever appropriate, staff shall attempt to manage situations using dynamic security, staff presence, verbal intervention, conflict resolution, negotiations, or verbal orders.

RESTRAINT EQUIPMENT

36. Restraint equipment may be used in routine situations, such as an escort or transfer, where it is specified by policy that such equipment may be applied on a cooperative offender.

37. Restraint equipment is one of several response options that may be used to manage a situation when the inmate's behaviour is within the cooperative to assaultive range.

INFLAMMATORY SPRAYS, CHEMICAL AGENTS AND PHYSICAL HANDLING

38. These three response options are a continuum of responses that are most often used in combination to manage situations where offender behaviour is physically uncooperative.

39. These responses would be used when verbal intervention or restraint equipment have proven ineffective or are assessed as inappropriate options for the situation.

BATONS AND OTHER INTERMEDIARY WEAPONS

40. These responses may be the safest and most reasonable interventions when offender behaviour is assaultive or worse.

41. These responses would be used when verbal intervention or chemical agents/inflammatory sprays are not available, have proven ineffective or are assessed as inappropriate response options for the situation.

42. These responses may be appropriate prior to resorting to the use of firearms to manage escapes, or more serious assaultive situations or behaviours likely to cause grievous bodily harm or death (i.e., riots and major disturbances).

43. The term "other intermediary weapons" includes canine, high pressure water, and any other equipment that may be approved for use in the national Security Equipment Manual.

FIREARMS

44. The use of firearms, in the form of the delivery of a deliberately aimed shot at a person, is limited to preventing grievous bodily harm, death or escape from a medium or maximum-security institution and satisfies the criteria set out in subsection 25 (5) of the Criminal Code: "A peace officer is justified in using force that is intended or is likely to cause death or grievous bodily harm against an inmate who is escaping from a penitentiary within the meaning of subsection 2 (1) of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, if

1. the peace officer believes on reasonable grounds that any of the inmates of the penitentiary poses a threat of death or grievous bodily harm to the peace officer or any other person; and
2. the escape cannot be prevented by reasonable means in a less violent manner".

45. A firearm shall be used only when other response options are not available, have proven unsuccessful or are not the safest and most reasonable intervention given the situational factors.

46. In response to the offender behaviours referred to in paragraph 44, firearms may also be used indirectly via physical presence with a firearm, charging of the firearm and/or use of a warning shot.

DEBRIEFING AND REPORTING

47. Staff and management shall debrief and report throughout the management of the entire situation in order to facilitate the ongoing assessment of situational factors and management options. Upon resolution of the situation, the necessary verbal and written reports shall be completed, in accordance with CD 567 1.

48. Staff shall be provided with critical incident stress management services when required.

A/Commissioner,

Original signed by :
Don Head

Annex "A"

Situation Management Model

CSC Staff and Management will prevent, respond and resolve situations using the safest and most reasonable intervention

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