POLICY BULLETIN

PDF

Policy number and title:

COMMISSIONER'S DIRECTIVE 708 - SPECIAL HANDLING UNIT
(Formerly 551)

What is new/changed?

In addition to updating and making minor changes to the policy, the roles and responsibilities of staff members involved with the Special Handling Unit (SHU) are clearly identified and enunciated. Content Guidelines are now being provided for the completion of case management reports on offenders being admitted to, maintained in or transferred from the SHU. Mental health assessments will now normally be completed on offenders in the region in which they resided prior to their transfer to the SHU. An annual mental health assessment is to be completed on all offenders who continue to reside at the SHU one year after their formal admission to the SHU. Expectations regarding the content of Management Plans are outlined as is the protocol to be observed during interviews of offenders by the National Advisory Committee.

As Institutional Reintegration Operations is the policy holder for the Special Handling Unit, it was determined that the most appropriate place for the CD would be within the 700 series, along with other case management policy CDs. The CD has therefore been renumbered from 551 to 708.

Why was the policy changed?

CD 551 (708) was amended and updated as a result of recommendations from a November 2005 Audit of the SHU by the NHQ Performance Assurance Sector. The policy was also amended to provide for consistency in the manner in which case management reports are completed.

How was it developed?

The revision was completed after consultation with the affected parties and stakeholders, including the Office of the Correctional Investigator, all CSC regions, NHQ and Legal Services.

Expected cost?

No additional costs are anticipated.

Other impacts?

None identified.

Contact:

Lee Redpath
Manager
Institutional Reintegration Operations

Table of Contents