Backgrounder

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE 26TH REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

April 2004

The Correctional Service of Canada, 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. - Correctional Service of Canada Mission Statement

The Government of Canada's Response to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts examines each of the Committee's twelve recommendations comprehensively. The Government of Canada is committed to effective corrections for women offenders and as such, has accepted the majority of the recommendations made by the Committee. The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is taking steps to implement these recommendations and will continue to strive to improve the efficiency and performance of its programs and services.

The following are highlights of the Government's response:

• CSC will close the last remaining separate unit housing women in men's penitentiaries. This unit, located at the Regional Reception Centre in Ste-Anne-des-Plaines, Quebec, will close upon the opening of the Secure Unit at Grand Valley Institution for Women, which is expected in the summer of 2004. Women requiring specialized mental health treatment will continue to be accommodated at CSC's Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, or in a provincial psychiatric hospital.

• CSC recognizes the importance of developing and using the most appropriate instruments for women offenders. CSC is presently re-assessing the application of two of its classification instruments for women offenders. A new security reclassification tool designed specifically for women offenders has also been developed and should be implemented in the fall of 2004. CSC will report on the results directly to the Parliamentary Committee.

• CSC is committed to working more closely with provincial and territorial counterparts as well as with non-governmental organizations and stakeholders in the various communities. CSC will continue to work collaboratively with Federal-Provincial-Territorial Working Groups, various partners and stakeholders as well as Aboriginal communities to discuss correctional issues as they pertain to women offenders and to engage them in identifying, developing and implementing strategies that will further the advancement of corrections for women.

• CSC will continue to ensure that all staff working directly or indirectly with women offenders receives the appropriate level of training so that they are sensitized to the various issues faced by women offenders, including sexism, racism, disability, sexual orientation, physical and/or sexual abuse, self-injurious and suicidal behaviours, addictions, mental health, and Aboriginal traditions and spirituality.

• CSC will report its progress, through its annual performance reports, in the following areas: refinement of its gender-specific programs; research and development of a national employment strategy framework for women offenders; implementation of the Action Plan that was developed as a result of the issues raised by the Auditor General; and engagement of Aboriginal communities in the reintegration process.

• While not rejecting the recommendation that CSC establish an external body to monitor the internal grievance system, it agrees to further examine the issue. The review will take into account CSC's current internal grievance process, as described in the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and the Corrections and Conditional Release Regulations, the role of the Deputy Commissioner for Women and the involvement of other independent mechanisms already in place to monitor issues raised by offenders.

An electronic copy of the response is available at http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/pblct/pubacc/index_e.shtml.

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