Corrections and Conditional Release Act

Marginal note:Principles that guide Service

4 The principles that guide the Service in achieving the purpose referred to in section 3 are as follows:

• (a) the sentence is carried out having regard to all relevant available information, including the stated reasons and recommendations of the sentencing judge, the nature and gravity of the offence, the degree of responsibility of the offender, information from the trial or sentencing process, the release policies of and comments from the Parole Board of Canada and information obtained from victims, offenders and other components of the criminal justice system;

• (b) the Service enhances its effectiveness and openness through the timely exchange of relevant information with victims, offenders and other components of the criminal justice system and through communication about its correctional policies and programs to victims, offenders and the public;

• (c) the Service uses the least restrictive measures consistent with the protection of society, staff members and offenders;

• (c.1) the Service considers alternatives to custody in a penitentiary, including the alternatives referred to in sections 29 and 81;

• (c.2) the Service ensures the effective delivery of programs to offenders, including correctional, educational, vocational training and volunteer programs, with a view to improving access to alternatives to custody in a penitentiary and to promoting rehabilitation;

• (d) offenders retain the rights of all members of society except those that are, as a consequence of the sentence, lawfully and necessarily removed or restricted;

• (e) the Service facilitates the involvement of members of the public in matters relating to the operations of the Service;

• (f) correctional decisions are made in a forthright and fair manner, with access by the offender to an effective grievance procedure;

• (g) correctional policies, programs and practices respect gender, ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic differences, sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, and are responsive to the special needs of women, Indigenous persons, visible minorities, persons requiring mental health care and other groups;

• (h) offenders are expected to obey penitentiary rules and conditions governing temporary absences, work release, parole, statutory release and long-term supervision and to actively participate in meeting the objectives of their correctional plans, including by participating in programs designed to promote their rehabilitation and reintegration; and

• (i) staff members are properly selected and trained and are given

  • (i) appropriate career development opportunities,

  • (ii) good working conditions, including a workplace environment that is free of practices that undermine a person’s sense of personal dignity, and

  • (iii) opportunities to participate in the development of correctional policies and programs.