Group Report 1 Running Head: GROUP REPORT

Group Report Federal Institutions Courtney Sharman, Stacy Croft, Brandon Emerson, Corey Harman Camosun College

Group Report 2 Introduction: Overview and Functions of Federal Institutions

Operating under the Ministry of Public Safety, Correctional Service Canada (CSC) is the government agency responsible for administering federal prison sentences, managing the associated institutions, and operating parole offices to supervise offenders in the community under conditional release. The agency operates under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.

National headquarters of the CSC are located in Ottawa, and the agency is divided into five regions; each area has a regional headquarters as well that provides management and support in the delivery of services. The regions are divided as follows:

1. Atlantic Region - 6 institutions: 1 maximum, 2 medium, 1 minimum, 2 multi-level 2. Quebec Region - 13 institutions: 2 maximum, 5 medium, 3 minimum, 3 multi-level 3. Ontario Region - 12 institutions: 3 maximum, 5 medium, 3 minimum, 1 multi-level 4. Prairie Region 14 institutions: 1 maximum, 1 medium, 5 minimum, 7 multi-level 5. Pacific Region - 9 institutions: 1 maximum, 3 medium, 3 minimum, 2 multi-level

Each Region includes at least one institution for each security level, including at least one multilevel institution for females. In addition, Quebec is home to the only super max division in Canada. This specialized unit is known as the Special Handling Unit (SHU) and is designed for inmates who are not manageable under ordinary security. Vancouver Islands Federal Institution: William Head

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William Head Institution is an all male, minimum security prison located west of Victoria in Metchosin. The institution opened in 1959 and currently has 101 employees, most of whom are correctional officers. William head can house up to 140 inmates, and is currently housing 94; these inmates live duplexes of 5 people. Over fifty percent of offenders at William Head are currently serving life sentences.

CSC: Employment in a Federal Institution

The national agency as a whole employs approximately 16,500 people. Since federal institutions range in size and responsibility, careers can vary. Careers with CSC include correctional officers, parole officers, psychologists, social worker, Aboriginal liaison officers, nurses, and pharmacists. Correctional officers (COs) are the largest group of employees within federal institutions. Duties of a CO include various security responsibilities, observing and assisting offenders and their behavior, as well as working with others to set up and implement correctional plans. Basic qualifications for becoming a CO are as follows: Canadian citizenship, knowledge of English or English and French, post-secondary experience in a related field, experience working with the public, motivation to work with offenders, adaptability to a demanding work environment.

Working for Federal Institutions: Challenges, Opportunities, Satisfactions

There are several challenges associated with working as a correctional officer inside a Federal Institution. COs manage inmates at all levels of security; many inmates have poor levels of education, are second or third generation criminals, and as many as 75% of these inmates have

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substance abuse issues. Many inmates suffer from mental illnesses and disabilities like schizophrenia or FASD, and this is a growing area of concern. COs often face pressure from management, and have to adapt to doing shift work. The unpredictable nature of this career can be associated with high stress levels.

Although challenging at times, the job also comes with many opportunities and benefits. COs often have opportunities to challenge themselves and further their education if they choose to. For example, a CO may have the opportunity to become a hostage negotiator, which may lead to becoming the trainer for hostage negotiators. Networking with agencies such as the FBI, CICS, Border Patrol, and immigration can bring further opportunities as well. COs have the ability to transfer between institutions, and there is always more money to be made. (Overtime) COs also often share a close bond with their fellow officers.

Ongoing Changes in Federal Insitutions

Stephen Harpers Conservative government is bringing many changes to the world of corrections. Bill C-10 will affect several aspects quite greatly. One specific example is the proposed amendment to article 4(d) of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and deals with the handling of inmates. The bill with change the clause from that the service use the least restrictive measures consistent with the protection of the public, staff members and offenders to the most appropriate measures. Correctional officers see this as negative change as it seems to promote an increase in physical force, potentially in excess or abuse.

On an officers behalf it is a change for the better, while on a inmates behalf most will see it as a huge issue. The Bill itself will change "we have to use the least restrictive measures when dealing with inmates he is changing it to Most appropriate measures. Meaning that CO's can use more reasonable force. Another important part of the bill states that if inmate chose to for go the assigned programming (which they do have the choice) they now have no penalties. Once the bill is past they will lose the "Right" in prison terms. They will lose item like visitation and phone privileges.