Many offenders arrive at a federal institution with
physical and psychological conditions that could pose
a risk to themselves, staff and others.The following is
an overview of the conditions that are most prevalent
in the correctional setting.
Within the institutions there are some offenders who
are considered a high risk for infectious disease such
as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis A, B and C, and Tuberculosis
(TB). Research shows that many offenders have substance abuse problems and some have serious mental
disorders that require specialized treatment.
Infectious Diseases
In 2002, CSC data indicated that almost 2%of the
general offender population was known to have HIV. In the same year, roughly 24% of the offender population had hepatitis C.
Many offenders are vulnerable to these diseases due
to high-risk lifestyles, both before they arrive in prison
and while incarcerated. High-risk behaviours include
injecting drugs, sharing needles, body piercing, tattooing and unprotected sex. In the institutions, there are
people who are at high risk for TB infection, particularly Aboriginal Canadians, foreign-born individuals
and injection drug users. TB is transmitted through the
inhalation of airborne organisms. Shared air space and
a large number of people living in a confined location,
such as an institutional environment, increases the
potential for transmission of this airborne disease.
Treatments and Responses to Infectious Diseases by CSC
CSC entered into a partnership with Health Canada
through the Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS. CSC’s
HIV/AIDS programming focuses on education, prevention, care, treatment and support.All offenders
have access to medication and specialists are available
for assessment and monitoring. CSC has a voluntary
Hepatitis A and B immunization program, and for
Hepatitis C and HIV, voluntary testing is performed. For TB, CSC offers a voluntary 2-step TB skin test on
newly admitted offenders and annual TB skin testing of
all offenders. Each CSC region has a designated number of facilities/rooms to which an inmate suspected of
having, or confirmed to have active TB disease, may be
transported in order to implement respiratory precautions.
TB screening and surveillance of CSC staff is the
responsibility of Occupational Health and Safety, CSC.
The Workplace Health and Public Safety Programme
(WHPSP), Health Canada, provides advice and staff
to conduct screening and surveillance activities on behalf of CSC.Staff screening participation is voluntary. The assessment includes a TB history, risk factor and
symptom inquiries, as well as a Tuberculin Skin Test
(if indicated).
Volunteers and contractors may be required to provide documentation of their baseline TB status to CSC
prior to starting work in a CSC institution. Further
assessment, i.e. annual screening, may also be required
if these individuals have direct and extended contact
with offenders.
Substance Abuse
Substance abuse is a serious problem for federal offenders. Roughly 79 percent of Canadian offenders have
some problem with drugs and/or alcohol. All correctional jurisdictions around the world have a problem
with drug use among offenders. CSC has “zero-tolerance” for the presence or use of drugs in its institutions
because drugs have a negative impact on reintegration
efforts; they threaten the security of an institution and
contribute to the spread of infectious diseases.
In the community, this issue raises serious concern
for the safety of the public as it is often related to the
carrying out of a crime and the transmission of infectious diseases.
CSC’s drug strategy is based on the “National Canada
Drug Strategy” and the intent is to eliminate drug use
in correctional facilities by reducing the supply of and
demand for drugs. This will then affect the spread of
disease among offenders. The intent is to assist the offender to successfully re-enter society as a law-abiding
citizen. With the decrease in substance abuse, the offender has a much higher chance of living in the community productively.
These initiatives are ongoing by CSC to try and
reduce the supply of drugs:
- Non-intrusive searching of all visitors entering
institutions using metal detectors, ion scanners
and drug detection dogs
- Searching of cells, grounds and buildings and
offenders are carried out regularly
- National random urinalysis program that tests
urine samples of five percent of the offender
population each month
These initiatives are ongoing by CSC to try and
reduce demand for drugs:
- Substance abuse programs for offenders
(intermediate and low intensity)
- High intensity substance abuse programs for those
offenders with the most severe problems
- Provision of Intensive Support Units for those who
want to live drug-free while incarcerated
- Methadone maintenance treatment
- Opening of the Addiction Research Centre to
provide a focal point for all drug and alcohol
research conducted by CSC
Mental Disorders
Offenders with mental disorders have difficulty
adjusting to life in prison. They have a higher risk of
suicide or self-injury. They usually require more assistance in the reintegration process and may need more
support services in the community, including such
things as alternative housing and additional counselling. Unfortunately, there are limited community supports for these offenders and this adversely affects their
eligibility for conditional release.
Roughly 19 percent of the inmate population suffers
from a mental disorder that may require specialized
intervention. Upon entering a CSC facility, inmates are
assessed to determine where they should be placed.
Treatments and Responses to Mental
Disorders by CSC
- Intensive (acute) care is provided for acutely mentally disordered offenders such as psychotics and
schizophrenics at regional treatment/psychiatric
centres
- Intermediate and chronic care is given to offenders
with mental disorders who need crisis intervention and transitional care.Programs and services of
mental health units are located in regular facilities
and delivered by mental health professionals
Ambulatory care is provided to those who have had
episodes of mental disorder within the past year but
are not in an acute phase of illness.