Investigations in the Correctional Environment

2

The Prison Environment

• A changing, more complex and difficult to manage offender population

• Increased operational requirements due to illicit drug use, trafficking, gang activity, and

• Antiquated infrastructure and security equipment

3

Who are the Inmates?

• Extensive histories of violence and violent crimes • Previous youth and adult convictions, affiliations with

gangs and organized crime, • Higher rates of infection of Hepatitis C and Human

Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV); • Disproportionate representation of Aboriginal people• Serious substance abuse histories • Serious mental health disorders

4

Strategic Objective

Improving CSC’s safety and security infrastructure, capacity and operations by:

• More stringent control of entry to institutions, perimeter controls, searching and offender visits

• Expansion of detector dog teams• Stronger security intelligence capacity• Improved correctional officer training, and• Better equipment, electronics to support safety and

security initiatives

5

The Investigative Process

• Aimed at operational improvement, not discipline based (a separate process applies)

• Competent senior managers investigators• Dedicated capacity• Consistent ant transparent reporting• Clear timeframes, corrective measures and

accountabilities• Tracking of all commitments

6

Investigative Process (6 months *)

• Collect incident data 2 weeks * • Convene investigation 3 weeks *• Conduct investigation 11 weeks *• Review, distribute, corrective measures 7 weeks *• Review, acceptance by senior management 4-6 weeks• Verify implementation of actions• Closure of the investigative file

7

Investigations

Fiscal Year 2007-2008: • 89 national investigations• 57 death or “serious bodily injury”

* local investigations not counted here

8

Types of Incidents InvestigatedInstitution• Assault and multiple use of force against an inmate• Assault, forcible confinement of a staff member • Death, suicide, attempts, serious bodily injuries• Hostage taking in the institution• Alleged inappropriate injections of inmates• Major disturbance and Inmate Injuries• Escapes• Overdoses

9

Types of Incidents InvestigatedCommunity • Death: suicide, overdose, murder• Hostage taking, forcible confinement, kidnapping• Assault with a weapon• Attempted murder, accessory to.. • Indignity to a body, sexual assault• Robbery, drug trafficking, weapons offences

* 38 Deaths-Natural Cause grouped into three investigations

10

Infrastructure – Security Systems

• Perimeter intrusion systems• Keeping inmates in• Keeping drugs out• Inmate control of movement• Searching and detection• Intelligence gathering (81 staff to169 by 2012)

11

Staff Safety Systems

• Training• Post assignment• Surveillance and cameras• Personal portable alarms• Protective equipment• Specialized units• Lethal force

12

Inmate Safety

• Classification and security levels• Counts rounds and supervision• Work and program assignment• Compatibles and incompatibles• Behavioural contracts• Medication• Security intelligence• Defibrillators

13

Public Safety

• Supervision teams• Electronic monitoring• Urinalysis testing• Police surveillance• Circles of Support and Accountability• Parole officer emergency response equipment

14

Technology, Deployment, Training and ThreatsSecure control - detection systems• Perimeter (PIDS), infra-red/low light imaging goggles • High volume ‘walk-through’ drug detectors (pilot)

• Ion scanners, CO2 detection devices, metal detectors• Drug dogs (46 to 126 teams by 2012)• Visitor database• Advanced cell phone detection and interception

systems, high resolution cameras, X-ray machines• Safes for the storage of drugs, including methadone

15

DeploymentNew Deployment Standards:• Additional multi-function support on the morning shift

in maximum security to increase response capacity• Increase gallery supervision in maximum security• Support additional detector dog handlers at all levels• Enhance perimeter security patrols and 22 towers -

maximum and medium security institutions), and • Relieve staff for delivery of additional training days • Structured training related to safety and security and

gang management, and mental health orientation

16

Threats-Challenges• Interconnectivity among gangs in institutions and the

community• Security reclassification of gang members• Active role of Security Intelligence • Community intelligence results (institutional vs.

community gangs)• Employment and mobility of offenders with gang

affiliations in the community.• Vulnerable mental health population

17

Impact of Investigations

• Identification of gaps in policies, training and contingency plans

• Identification of emerging threats to infra-structure and safe and secure custody

• Identification of emerging patterns of behaviour• Corporate mitigation strategies to address corporate

risk profile• Identification of risk factors that are unique,

undetectable, not perceived or unusual

18

Security Systems – Inherent Risks

Compromising of Security Systems by Inmates• Ability to observe and analyse CSC systems and

structures over time• Predictability of staff presence• Repositioning of opportunities to compromise

systems (ie: scanners, visits, staff searches contractors, perimeter..)

19

Security Systems – The Imperative

CSC must constantly assess and re-assess their operating environment and secure the necessary commitment (government, staff,

public, stakeholders) to provide for the ongoing security structures that will ensure that risk is managed in a fashion prescribed

and expected by Canadians.

20

Security, Systems, Staff and Safety

Questions???

Comments !!!

21

Security, Systems, Staff and Safety

Thank You

Drury Allen

Director General

Incident Investigations Branch

The Correctional Service of Canada