RECOMMENDATION 1

That the federal government, in cooperation with the provinces and territories, make a commitment to and a serious investment in the mental health system, in order to ease the identification of and access to treatment for people suffering from mental health and addictions before they end up in the correctional system.

RECOMMENDATION 2

That the federal government study the report entitled Childhood Mental Health and Life Chances in Post-war Britain. Insights from three national birth cohort studies and develop a national strategy, in collaboration with the Mental Health Commission of Canada and in keeping with provincial and territorial areas of jurisdiction, to deal appropriately with mental health problems experienced in childhood and adolescence, so as to reduce markedly the adult crime rate.

RECOMMENDATION 3

That the federal government work with provinces and territories in order to ensure that police officers, Crown prosecutors and other key players in the criminal justice system be trained to recognize the symptoms of mental health problems, mental illness and drug and alcohol abuse so that they can direct offenders to the appropriate treatment services.

RECOMMENDATION 4

That the federal government work with the provinces and territories on early identification of mental health and addiction issues affecting offenders in remand, and secure access to treatment services for them in order to address conditions that are so often precursors to escalating crime and incarceration.

RECOMMENDATION 5

That the federal government support the creation and funding of more drug treatment courts to divert offenders with addictions to treatment centres and mental health courts to divert those with mental health needs to appropriate services.

RECOMMENDATION 6

That the federal government support the creation and funding of more community courts to divert offenders with concurrent mental health and addiction issues to appropriate health facilities.

RECOMMENDATION 7

That the federal government initiate discussions with provincial and territorial governments with a view to establishing partnerships and service agreements with hospitals for the delivery of health care services so that federal inmates have the same access to health care as other Canadians. Such partnerships would also provide continuity of mental health care when inmates are released into the community.

RECOMMENDATION 8

That Correctional Service Canada establish agreements with provincial psychiatric hospitals—that have suitable facilities to accommodate offenders without compromising public safety—to transfer some offenders who are posing a threat to themselves or others and who cannot be treated at regional treatment centres, along with financial compensation. These agreements should also allow correctional staff to be assigned to the facilities during a transfer in order to ensure public safety.

RECOMMENDATION 9

That the federal government develop coordination of services between Correctional Service Canada and provincial and territorial health authorities to provide a continuum of care through warrant expiry.

RECOMMENDATION 10

That Correctional Service Canada explore and arrange community partnerships for training federal offenders (through Habitat for Humanity, for example).

RECOMMENDATION 11

That Correctional Services Canada (CSC) review its current mental health and addictions programming to ensure that it meets the cultural and religious needs of Aboriginal offenders, who make up a disproportionate percentage of the Canadian inmate population, and a disproportionate percentage of inmates facing mental health and addiction issues; that CSC implement, together with local Aboriginal communities, more mental health and addiction programs addressing the specific needs of Aboriginal offenders. In addition to contributing to the development of these programs, local Aboriginal communities should also contribute to the delivery of these programs to ensure maximum success.

RECOMMENDATION 12

That Correctional Service Canada expand the use of sweat lodges and other Aboriginal healing methods and refrain from using denial of same as a disciplinary measure.

RECOMMENDATION 13

That Correctional Service Canada encourage healthy dietary practices for all offenders and where practical consider diet options for Aboriginal offenders including traditional and country food.

RECOMMENDATION 14

That Correctional Service Canada make greater use of agreements concluded with Aboriginal communities under sections 81 and 84 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, and establish the required capacity.

RECOMMENDATION 15

That Correctional Service Canada ensure that offenders have the same medical care as citizens generally.

RECOMMENDATION 16

That Correctional Service Canada ensure that access to medical care is provided to offenders in a timely manner.

RECOMMENDATION 17

That Correctional Service Canada work towards a psychologist/patient ratio of no more than 1:35 at all federal institutions.

RECOMMENDATION 18

That Correctional Service Canada add substance abuse counsellors at every federal institution.

RECOMMENDATION 19

That Correctional Service Canada add psychiatric nurses and nurses at every federal institution.

RECOMMENDATION 20

That Correctional Service Canada ensure timely access to dental care at every federal institution.

RECOMMENDATION 21

That Correctional Service Canada place a renewed focus on individualized treatment for all offenders with diagnosed mental health conditions, including addiction issues.

RECOMMENDATION 22

That Correctional Service Canada work towards ensuring that adequate one-on-one counselling services are commenced forthwith upon diagnosis, and delivered in a timely fashion and in sufficient weekly amounts as prescribed by the treating psychologist or counsellor.

RECOMMENDATION 23

That the federal government require offenders who have assaulted staff members or other offenders with biological substances to undergo, in the interest of the health and safety of those assaulted, all the necessary tests to diagnose the presence of any infectious diseases.

RECOMMENDATION 24

That the federal government invest additional resources for the full implementation of the Correctional Service of Canada’s mental health strategy.

RECOMMENDATION 25

That Correctional Service Canada (CSC) make mental health screening upon admission a priority and that the federal government continue to fund this component of the mental health strategy. CSC should also require a full psychological assessment of an offender if recommended by a health care professional after the aforementioned screening.

RECOMMENDATION 26

That Correctional Service Canada establish and fund intermediate mental health services and intermediate care units, depending on offenders’ needs in each correctional facility, in order to care properly for offenders with mental health problems who do not meet the admission criteria of regional treatment centres and in order to provide care for offenders transferred from a regional psychiatric centre; and so that offenders do not feel compelled to enter voluntary administrative segregation to protect themselves from other offenders.

RECOMMENDATION 27

That Correctional Service Canada implement innovative, multidisciplinary units for personality disordered individuals, based on the Whitemoor, U.K., model.

RECOMMENDATION 28

That Correctional Service Canada cover the cost of all medication prescribed to treat mental illness of offenders on conditional release in the community through warrant expiry.

RECOMMENDATION 29

That the federal government explore all program options available to reduce the skyrocketing rates of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C that pose a serious threat to public health both in prison and when offenders are released back into the community, and that assessments be undertaken to evaluate which program options are most effective at reducing the spread of infectious diseases in the context of the Canadian correctional system.

RECOMMENDATION 30

That Correctional Service Canada encourage and expand the use of  12 Step programs to deal with addiction issues, including the increased use of outside community groups to assist.

RECOMMENDATION 31

That Correctional Service Canada encourage the creation of drug treatment units in federal institutions.

RECOMMENDATION 32

That Correctional Service Canada allocate additional financial and human resources for drug treatment, harm reduction and prevention.

RECOMMENDATION 33

That Correctional Service Canada allocate additional funding to drug treatment programs at all federal correctional facilities.

RECOMMENDATION 34

That Correctional Service Canada establish programs to treat offenders who have both mental health and drug abuse problems simultaneously.

RECOMMENDATION 35

That Correctional Service Canada (CSC) continue to examine ways of strengthening drug interdiction monitoring activities and, in keeping with the recommendations made by the CSC Independent Review Panel, that CSC take a more rigorous approach to drug interdiction in order to create safe and secure environments where offenders can focus on rehabilitation.

RECOMMENDATION 36

That the federal government support the renewal and modernization of the federal correctional system’s aging infrastructure.

RECOMMENDATION 37

When building new facilities, that Correctional Service Canada provide toilets and windows in every cell with access to sunlight and fresh air where possible.

RECOMMENDATION 38

When new infrastructure is built, that Correctional Service Canada ensure that therapeutic considerations are taken into account.

RECOMMENDATION 39

That the federal government build more expanded psychiatric care units. It must also ensure appropriate sub-units, and space both for private interviews and to deliver one-on-one counselling.

RECOMMENDATION 40

That the federal government take action to address the fact that Correctional Service Canada currently has no stand-alone psychiatric facility to accommodate and treat women serving sentences of two or more years who are affected by complex mental health issues.

RECOMMENDATION 41

That Correctional Service Canada modernize the Archambault Regional Mental Health Centre by building, outside the current location, a maximum security psychiatric facility to treat all mental health problems. This facility could be similar to the Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon and the treatment philosophy could be based on the approach used at the Shepody Healing Centre in Dorchester or at Ila institution in Norway.

RECOMMENDATION 42

That Correctional Service Canada develop a values-based vision as part of its mission to encourage healthy living in the correctional setting and mutual respect among offenders and staff. These values would be posted in all common areas and updated regularly by inmates and staff.

RECOMMENDATION 43

That Correctional Service Canada ensure adequate access to physical exercise and outdoor exercise.

RECOMMENDATION 44

That Correctional Service Canada ensure that all psychiatric units meet acceptable standards, including cell size, lighting, common areas, etc.

RECOMMENDATION 45

That Correctional Service Canada reduce barriers between correctional officers and inmates to establish, where possible, an atmosphere most conducive to rehabilitation.

RECOMMENDATION 46

That Correctional Service Canada have petition boxes installed in correctional facilities to allow inmates to submit confidential written requests to institution wardens, who would be responsible for responding to every reasonable request.

RECOMMENDATION 47

That the federal government uphold the United Nations’ Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, to which the Government of Canada is a signatory, which states: "Where sleeping accommodation is in individual cells or rooms, each prisoner shall occupy by night a cell or room by himself,” as it is widely accepted that double bunking and overcrowding exacerbates mental health and addiction problems faced by inmates, as well as their ability to rehabilitate and reintegrate into society.

RECOMMENDATION 48

That Correctional Service Canada make its mental health training activities a priority so that all employees working with offenders in an institution or in the community can gain familiarity with the symptoms of mental illness and treatment methods for offenders with mental health problems.

RECOMMENDATION 49

That Correctional Service Canada introduce specialized mental health training for correctional officers, program officers and parole officers who work in mental health units or regional treatment centres.

RECOMMENDATION 50

That Correctional Service Canada create mental health training material that is available electronically so that correctional employees can consult it at any time, at work or even at home.

RECOMMENDATION 51

That Correctional Service Canada give priority to admitting into intermediate care units (newly created by Committee recommendation 26) offenders with mental health problems who would normally be subject to administrative segregation to protect them from other offenders.

RECOMMENDATION 52

That Correctional Service Canada use administrative segregation in only the most limited circumstances, under very strict regulations and as a last resort.

RECOMMENDATION 53

That Correctional Service Canada ensure that when administrative segregation is used, it is in its mildest form, on a graduated basis and of the shortest duration possible in order to achieve the desired outcome.

RECOMMENDATION 54

That Correctional Service Canada recognize that administrative segregation is not conducive to the treatment of offenders with mental health diagnoses and that human contact is essential to their rehabilitation and, where possible, facilitate their treatment with a health-care approach.

RECOMMENDATION 55

That Correctional Service Canada (CSC) examine the use of segregation for offenders with mental health problems in order to develop alternative solutions for this clientele. In order to do so, the CSC must take into account the opinions of wardens, front-line workers, including correctional officers, and best practices in other countries that have reduced the use of segregation.

RECOMMENDATION 56

That Correctional Service Canada immediately conduct an independent review of all cases of long-term administrative segregation and have an independent outside agency validate and assess the review of these cases.

RECOMMENDATION 57

That Correctional Service Canada substantially increase its budget for correctional programs addressing factors contributing to crime, including drug and alcohol abuse and mental health problems.

RECOMMENDATION 58

That Correctional Service Canada provide for the training and increase the use of peer counsellors.

RECOMMENDATION 59

That Correctional Service Canada increase the use of craft rooms and workshops and expand the range and number of creative, recreational, arts and music programs as well as other therapeutic programs.

RECOMMENDATION 60

That Correctional Service Canada restore its prison farm program, which is an excellent rehabilitation tool, also serving as animal therapy.

RECOMMENDATION 61

That the federal government, acknowledging the imperative nature of preparing inmates for reintegration into the community, recognize the unique rehabilitative needs of offenders struggling with mental health and addictions, and put a greater focus on rehabilitation programs that have offenders working with living things, which research has shown has a calming and restorative effect on inmates, and helps them develop qualities that offenders often lack, like a sense of self worth, respect and empathy, as well as essential life skills like a sense of responsibility, dependability and teamwork, and that Correctional Service Canada explore and implement the use of pet therapy programs and other therapeutic use of animal husbandry.

RECOMMENDATION 62

That Correctional Service Canada create a parenting skills program for offenders in institutions by creating partnerships with community and government organizations. This approach could include educational training for children of various age groups, conflict management, weekend family visits, improving children’s reading skills and increasing the number of prison units accommodating mothers and their children.

RECOMMENDATION 63

That Correctional Service Canada develop and deliver core programs for sex offenders who have developmental delays, bi-polar disorders or other similar limitations that currently make access to present core programming inappropriate.

RECOMMENDATION 64

That Correctional Service Canada increase the number of half-way beds for men and women to ensure adequate beds in every province and territory.

RECOMMENDATION 65

That Correctional Service Canada encourage and increase family visits and re-connection to family, friends and community.

RECOMMENDATION 66

That Correctional Service Canada expand the interaction with community programs, resources and groups to vastly increase both the community involvement in, and the type, number and quality of programs within, the correctional institutions (e.g., sports teams, drama programs, teachers, etc.).

RECOMMENDATION 67

That Correctional Service Canada expand the access of offenders wherever possible and desirable to community resources, programs and visits, in the community.

RECOMMENDATION 68

That Correctional Service Canada develop an attraction and retention program for psychologists, nurses, psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists, social workers and other necessary professionals, including paying market salaries.

RECOMMENDATION 69

That Correctional Service Canada provide for dedicated budgets for the ongoing training of health professionals in order to make the environment more attractive to them.

RECOMMENDATION 70

That Correctional Service Canada immediately implement all of the recommendations made by Howard Sapers, Correctional Investigator, in his report entitled “A Preventable Death,” released in June 2008.

RECOMMENDATION 71

That Correctional Service Canada implement all recommendations of the Office of the Correctional Investigator 36^th Annual Report to Parliament (2008-2009) not contained herein.