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Correctional Service of Canada

COMMISSIONER'S DIRECTIVE

Number - Numéro:
705-1

Date:
2006-04-10

PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENTS AND POST-SENTENCE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENTS

Issued under the authority of the Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada

PDF

Policy Bulletin 202

[  Objective | Authorities | Cross-References | Principles | Roles and Responsibilities | Preliminary Assessment Interview | Post-Sentence Community Assessment (PSCA) ]

Annex A - Content Guidelines - Preliminary Assessment

Annex B - Post-Sentence Community Assessment Content Guidelines

 

OBJECTIVE

1. To establish standards and procedures for Preliminary Assessments and Post-Sentence Community Assessments.

AUTHORITIES

2. Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA), s. 23 and 24 - Information

Privacy Act

Access to Information Act

CROSS-REFERENCES

3. CD 702 - Aboriginal Programming

CD 704 - International Transfers

CD 705 - Intake Assessment and Placement

CD 710-2 - Transfer of Offenders

PRINCIPLES

4. Complete, accurate and quality information is essential to assist in every activity related to the offender's assessment in the correctional process.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

5. Regional Deputy Commissioners (RDCs) will ensure procedures and agreements are in place so that CSC will be informed by provincial authorities of new federal sentences and Long-Term Supervision Orders.

6. Community Parole Officers will determine the offender's custody rating using the Custody Rating Scale, for female offenders and in regions with de-centralized intake units, before the offender is transferred to a federal institution.

7. Community Parole Officers will interview the offender and complete the Preliminary Assessment Report within five working days of the offender receiving a federal sentence unless there are exceptional circumstances which would prohibit these activities.

8. In instances where an offender is sentenced in a remote location and it is not feasible for the offender to be interviewed within the identified timeframe, the community Parole Officer will interview and complete the Preliminary Assessment Report as soon as possible. In these instances, exceptions to the five day timeframe will apply.

9. When the offender is admitted to an Intake Assessment Unit immediately following federal sentencing, the Intake Assessment Unit will complete the Preliminary Assessment. Preliminary Assessments completed by Intake Assessment Units are normally completed within five days of the offender's admission to federal custody.

10. Offenders arriving in a CSC facility via international transfer will not require a Preliminary Assessment or a Post-Sentence Community Assessment.

11. Community Parole Officers will complete Post-Sentence Community Assessments within 40 calendar days from the date of admission to federal custody.

PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT INTERVIEW

12. The Preliminary Assessment is used to collect basic data on the offender, assess his or her immediate needs, initiate the collection of the critical documents and orient the offender to the CSC.

13. Preliminary Assessment interviews will be held while the offender is in the custody of provincial authorities.

14. The Preliminary Assessment interview involves:

  1. informing the offender about the federal correctional system and responding to questions concerning: types of institutions, sections 81 and 84 of the CCRA, security levels, visiting, intake assessment process, Elder and Chaplain services, transfer process, release process, employment and employability programs, health care, methadone maintenance program, medical care, psychological treatment and programs, correctional programs, offender redress system and the various services relating to case management;
  2. entering into the Offender Management System (OMS), the offender's next of kin and emergency contacts;
  3. identifying any immediate and critical concerns, making appropriate referrals, and entering appropriate alerts, flags and needs in the OMS; and
  4. collecting basic information, including the names and addresses of persons to be interviewed in the community as part of the Post-sentence Community Assessment (PSCA), and potential release plans in the case of APR cases serving a sentence of four years or less and other cases serving three years or less.

15. Refer to Preliminary Assessment Content Guidelines, Annex A.

16. Request a Post-Sentence Community Assessment (PSCA) from the designated parole office.

POST-SENTENCE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT (PSCA)

17. The Post-Sentence Community Assessment (PSCA) report is an essential document in the Intake Assessment and the correctional planning processes.

18. A PSCA will be requested as soon as possible after receiving notification of the imposition of a federal sentence.

19. The PSCA report serves as a preliminary information gathering tool where information provided by the offender may be enhanced and corroborated.

20. In cases where a number of persons have to be interviewed for the same PSCA, a single report, focusing on the analysis of all information available, will be completed.

21. Information gathered must be corroborated independently by other sources whenever possible.

22. Normally, contacts made during the PSCA are conducted in person. In exceptional cases (remote areas, where contacts are known to CSC staff), information may be collected by telephone or video conferencing.

23. If no personal contacts are identified by the offender, the community Parole Officer will collect information from official sources.

24. When information is only collected from official contacts who are well known to CSC (Social Services, Probation, Police, Community Residential Facilities, etc.), the information may be collected by telephone or video conferencing.

25. When a PSCA is being conducted in an Aboriginal community, the community Parole Officer will ensure to include where applicable, Band Councils or Chief and Councils and also take that opportunity to ensure the community knows of sections 81 and 84 of the CCRA, and encourage the earliest appropriate development of custody or release planning for that offender.

26. During the PSCA interview, focus on obtaining information that will assist in the overall assessment of the offender. Verify identities, living conditions, signs of abuse or neglect, or any other issues/concerns that may impact on the offender's reintegration potential. Respond to any questions regarding the offender's sentence and incarceration.

27. Analyse all gathered information and assess the community's capacity to support the offender's reintegration into society.

28. For APR cases where the offender is serving four years or less and for all other cases serving three years or less, where the Assessment for Decision is completed by the Intake Assessment Unit, the PSCA will include a Community Strategy that will be valid for six months.

29. Where the Assessment for Decision is completed by the community, the Community Strategy will be completed upon a request from the Intake Assessment Unit, following the completion of the Correctional Plan. 30. For APR cases interested in release planning through section 84, refer to CD 712-1, Pre release Decision-Making.

31. Refer to Content Guidelines in Annex B on Post-Sentence Community Assessment report.

Commissioner,

Original signed by
Keith Coulter

 

ANNEX A
CONTENT GUIDELINES – PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT

PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT / CONTENT GUIDELINES/CHECKLIST FOR THE INTERVIEW

Note: The information gathered for the Preliminary Assessment is mainly offender self-reported and is subject to confirmation.

1.

Name of Offender

 

Alias(es)

2.

Date of Birth

 

Place of Birth

 

3.

FPS Number

Gender

Male check box

Female check box

4.

Offender Location

 

5.

Electoral Information

 

6.

Marital Status

 

check box Married

check box Common Law

check box Separated

 

 

check box Single

check box Divorced

check box Widowed

 

 

check box Unknown

7.

Preferred official language

English check box

French check box

Need for translator check box

 

Home Language

Langue maternelle

 

 

Other Spoken Languages

 

8.

Citizenship

Canadian check box

Dual Citizenship check box

 

 

Non-Canadian check box

Other Country check box

 

 

Unknown check box

 

9.

Race

Status

 

Band #

10.

Religion

 

11.

Contact in case of emergency

 

12.

Offence for which currently sentenced:

 

Type of offence

 

 

Length of sentence

 

 

Date of sentencing

 

 

Police Force

 

 

 

check box Waiver signed

13.

Eligibility for Accelerated Parole Review (to be confirmed by Sentence Management)

 

14.

Smoker check box

Non-smoker check box

15.

Offender version of offence (description, violence, weapon used,factors leading up to the decision to commit, and motive for, the offence(s), the part the offender played in the offence, the name, role and status of accomplices,the offender's attitude towards the offence and the level of remorse, etc.)

 

Immediate Needs

  Medical

As much as possible, a value must be entered for each indicator (yes-no-unknown).

check box  Is taking medication

check box Has allergies

check box Has health concerns which require immediate attention

check box Has other special needs

check box Has an upcoming medical appointment

Comment (for any checked indicator, explain)

 

Mental Health

As much as possible, a value must be entered for each indicator (yes-no-unknown).

check box Appears mentally disordered

check box Reports having emotional or mental health problems

check box Has history of treatment for emotional or mental health problems

check box Has emotional or mental health problems requiring immediate attention

check box Requires immediate medication for mental health problems

check box Requires immediate special cell placement for observation and mental health interventions

Comment (for any checked indicator, explain)

 

Security

As much as possible a value must be entered for each indicator (yes-no-unknown).

check box May be affiliated with organized crime/gang

check box Concerns exist regarding incompatibles

check box Current offence(s) involves explosives

check box Has a history of arson/fire setting

check box Case has attracted extensive media attention

check box May be subject to deportation

check box Has outstanding charges

check box May be security literate

check box Current offence(s) involves use of computer technology

check box Protected or confidential information exists

check box Previous institutional adjustment concerns exist

check box Physical disability may preclude the use of certain types of force

Comment (for any checked indicator, explain)

 

Suicide Risk

It is mandatory that a value be entered for each indicator (yes-no-unknown).

check box May be suicidal/has suicidal thoughts

check box Has plan for suicide

check box Has previous suicide attempt(s) in the last 5 years

check box Has had recent psychiatric/psychological intervention/hospitalisation

check box Recent loss of relationship, death of a close relative/friend

check box Excessively worried about problems

check box Influence of alcohol or drugs, signs of withdrawal

check box Shows signs of depression/hopelessness

Comment (for any checked indicator, explain)

 

ASSESSMENT OF RELEASE POTENTIAL / ÉVALUATION POUR LIBÉRATION SOUS CONDITION

Potential Release Plans (APR cases serving a sentence of 4 years or less and other cases serving 3 years or less) :

U.T.A Destination :

Support Systems :

Plans for a transfer or release under sections 81 or 84 :

Day Parole – Destination :

Residence Potential  :

Support Systems :

Full Parole – Destination :

 

Accommodation :

Employment Plans :

-----------------------------------------------------

CONTACTS FOR POST-SENTENCE C.A.

(For all cases)

 

Name :

Relationship :

Contact Type :

Address :

Telephone :

 

Name :

Relationship:

Contact Type:

Address :

Telephone :

 

Name :

Relationship:

Contact Type :

Address:

Telephone:

 

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: (Any other relevant information, i.e. officer's impression of the offender, behaviour during provincial custody, deportation issues, employment history, offender's attitude regarding conviction, particular situation, intent to appeal, education, previous convictions, unlawfully at large, etc.)

 

Completed by: Title: Date:

 

ANNEX B
POST-SENTENCE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT CONTENT GUIDELINES

1. Notification to third party

Persons contacted shall be told that the information they provide will be shared with the offender. Should the identity of the contact require protection, the information should be provided in a Protected Information Report. The contact shall be informed that a summary or "gist" of any information disclosed will be provided to the offender if this information is to be used in the decision making process.

2. Source(s) of information

 

For each contact, list:

  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Address
  • Telephone number
  • Occupation
  • Relationship to offender
  • Place where the interview took place and a general, brief, objective description of the physical environment (if relevant)
  • Date of the interview
  • CPIC check (as per regional practices)

3. Offender's relationship with the contact and significant others

(if applicable)

Based on information provided by the contact:

Parole Officer's assessment of:

  • The nature of the relationship between the offender and contact;
  • The impact of the contact(s)' extended relationship with the offender during incarceration or at time of release;
  • The degree of support the contact(s) are prepared to offer to the offender regarding his/her reintegration in the community (in the present and in the future), as well as reliability of the information obtained;
  • The offender's social network;
  • The offender's relationship with peers or significant others.

4. Criminal history

Contact's comments on:

  • The offender's criminal behaviour (the age at which problems with the law started, type and frequency of offences, history of placement in juvenile or adult institutions);
  • The offender's performance on bail;
  • Original charges versus final outcome, and fairness of the sentence.

Based on information provided by the contact:

Parole Officer's assessment of:

  • The contact's attitude toward the offender's criminal behaviour and their ability to successfully reintegrate.

5. Contributing factors

 

 

Based on information provided by the contacts:

Parole Officer's assessment of:

  • The dynamic factors that contributed to the criminal behaviour and factors not directly related to the criminal behaviour but likely to contribute to the safe reintegration of the offender in the community:
  • offender's employment history (pattern of employment and job satisfaction);
  • offender's alcohol and/or drug history;
  • offender' attitude towards accepted social values and his/her views on living a law-abiding lifestyle;
  • the influences associates may have over the offender;
  • offender's personality (impulsive, empathetic, sensation seeking, manipulative);
  • pattern such as aggression, assertion, coping mechanisms or frustration tolerance;
  • offender's sexual dysfunction;
  • offender's mental health;
  • The offender's childhood including whether the family unit had a negative or positive influence on the offender;
  • The offender's community and historical information, particularly in the case of Aboriginal offenders;
  • The factors that represent the offender's strengths likely to contribute in his/her reintegration;
  • The contact(s)'s ability to assist the offender in the participation/completion of community programs;
  • The leisure activities and awareness/use of social/community services by the offender and the contact(s);
  • The relevance of offender's release plans, and suggestions for additions or alternatives to the plans with a corresponding rationale;
  • The dynamic contributing factors to be addressed prior to release (order of priority of the dynamic factors).

Contact's opinion on:

  • The offender's ability to set goals, recognize and solve problems, communication skills (verbal and written), ability to handle finances.

Availability and short description of:

  • Programs and resources that are accessible in the community to address what seems to be the offender's contributing factors.
  • For s. 84 releases, comment on the community's capacity to support the offender.

6. Temporary absences and private family visits

(as applicable)

  • Family eligibility and interest in participating in private family visits.
  • Contact(s)'s interest in receiving the offender on UTAs and the ability and willingness to provide suitable accomodation.
  • Concerns with respect to family violence (current or past relationships).
  • The offender's past and present marital status, parenting responsibilities.

Based on information provided by the contacts:

Parole Officer's assessment of:

  • The value the contact places on family and the value the offender places on family;
  • The family dynamic;
  • The relevance of UTAs and PFV program, including reporting and supervision requirements, type and frequency of contacts.

7. Police or other official information

  • Specific information received from police, including reaction to the proposed release plan(s) and the reporting requirements established for the offender; impressions of the contact.
  • Specific information received from other criminal justice sources and official community organizations.
  • Specific information from police or other official information pertaining to family violence and the existence of any restraining orders.
  •  
  • Where relevant, indicate the offender's deportation status, or other relevant immigration information.

8. Assessment of impact on victim(s)

If other regional practices to gather victim impact statements are used, this section should not be completed.

  • Based on available information examine the effect of the offence on the victim(s), elaborating on detention criteria subsections 129(2)( a )(i) and 129(2)( a )(ii) of the CCRA as required.
  • Information may be obtained from a variety of sources, including:
  • The arresting/investigating police officer;
  • Crown attorney (should be the first point of contact for inquiry into the harm caused to a victim when the wishes and/or circumstances of that victim are unknown. From the information received at that point, it is a matter of judgement whether it is necessary or advisable to contact the victim directly);
  • The victim (although sensitivity to the victim may make direct contact inadvisable; such cases include where the victim has had no contact with the Service since the offender was sentenced, or where the victim has indicated he or she does not wish to be contacted).
  • The potential risk related to the offender's eventual release to the victim(s).

9. Community Strategy

For APR cases serving four years or less and all other cases serving three years or less where the Assessment for Decision is completed by the Intake Assessment Unit. See "Community Strategy Content Guidelines".

10. Overall assessment

The Parole Officer provides an opinion regarding the level and quality of the community support available to the offender and the proposed options and/or treatments/programs available in the community likely to maintain the risk at the lowest level possible, when the offender is eventually released in the community and the reintegration potential of the offender.

 

 


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Last Updated: 2006.04.20

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