Question Period Note: COVID-19 in Federal Corrections

There is media coverage in the Atlantic region regarding an outbreak at Dorchester Penitentiary. There are 54 inmates and six staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19.

• The Correctional Service of Canada is committed to protecting the health and safety of staff, inmates, and the public during these unprecedented times.
• As of November 23, 54 inmates and six staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 at Dorchester Penitentiary, medium-security unit. This is the first outbreak in the Atlantic region since the beginning of the pandemic.
• This is an evolving situation and the Service will continue to apply a range of infection prevention and control measures to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19, and adapt based on public health advice.
• In addition to the use of masks, medical isolation, and physical distancing, the Service has also established cohorts and modified routines as a measure to help prevent the spread of the virus within the institution
• As of November 21, almost 86% of inmates at Dorchester Penitentiary medium-security unit are fully vaccinated and over 88% have received their first dose.

: The media are reporting that 54 inmates and six staff members from Dorchester Penitentiary have tested positive for COVID-19.

Cases among Inmates

As of November 23, 2021, there are 54 active COVID-19 cases among inmates at Dorchester Penitentiary in the Atlantic Region.

Since March 2020, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has had 39 outbreaks, 1,639 positive inmate cases and six deaths in its institutions. CSC is transparent in its steadfast management of COVID-19 cases. As such, testing, positive cases, vaccination rates, and deaths are posted regularly on CSC’s website and updates are provided to stakeholders.

COVID-19 in Federal Institutions
Outbreak at Dorchester

Contact tracing is ongoing and testing for COVID-19 is being offered to inmates and staff within the medium-security unit. CSC is currently using rapid tests to help detect positive cases more quickly and take necessary actions accordingly.

CSC continues to actively screen all individuals entering the institution, and decisions regarding access to the site as well as programs and services are made in consideration of public health principles. All staff and inmates are equipped with medical masks, and they have increased cleaning and disinfection throughout the site. In addition, all staff are equipped with face shields.

CSC continues to offer vaccinations to inmates at all federal correctional institutions. Close to 86% of inmates at Dorchester Penitentiary medium-level security unit are fully vaccinated and over 88% have received their first dose.
Due to the recent increase in COVID-19 activities in New Brunswick, family visits are temporarily suspended at Dorchester Penitentiary. During this time, options are available to inmates to connect with their family and support networks, such as video visitation or telephone.
Infection Prevention and Control Measures

CSC continues to take exceptional measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in all CSC institutions to limit the risk to inmates and staff. These include mandatory masks for inmates and staff, physical distancing measures, active health screening of anyone entering institutions, increased and enhanced cleaning and disinfection at sites, as well as conducting over 4,000 contact tracing events and carrying out significant testing among inmates and staff, including asymptomatic individuals. Additional personal protective equipment is available to employees who need it, including health care staff.

Vaccinations

On January 8, 2021, CSC began vaccinating inmates against COVID-19, in accordance with the guidelines established by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). Clinics were organized to ensure elderly, medically vulnerable inmates were able to access the vaccine in the first phase. In April 2021, CSC offered vaccines to all remaining offenders in its institutions and Community Correctional Centres, as per the NACI guidelines. To date, over 80% of inmates have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 85% have received one dose. CSC’s current levels of COVID-19 vaccination coverage is available on its website.

Following NACI guidelines, CSC has begun offering booster vaccines for inmates aged 65 and over, and those who had their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine over six months ago.

The COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory for federal inmates. CSC staff continues to engage with inmates regarding the benefits of getting immunized and continues to make vaccines available to those who may have declined and newly admitted inmates.

Visits to Institutions

CSC is monitoring the situation closely as it evolves and will adjust its approach in consultation with public health partners across the country. At the first sign of one case of transmission at a site, non-essential staff and visitors will no longer be allowed in that site until the outbreak is contained.

Visitors will be restricted access to institutions if they are visiting an institution in an area that is identified as being moderate to high risk in accordance with CSC’s National COVID-19 Risk Management Framework, or where inter- and intra-provincial travel restrictions apply.

Inmate visits have largely resumed with the exception of institutions where the local public health situation indicates a higher risk. The Government of Canada website is updated regularly to provide information on which sites are currently open for visits.

Video Visitation Kiosks

To ensure offenders could maintain contact with their loved ones and support networks during the COVID-19 pandemic, CSC increased video visitation kiosks by 228%, with 117 dedicated video visitation kiosks and 70 multi-purpose kiosks that are also used to facilitate virtual health case interactions, interim offender program delivery, and legal proceedings. These are now available across the country. CSC also increased the bandwidth to support the use of video visits, and, at many sites, increased the hours during which video visits are available. This has resulted in a 300% increase in video visitation usage, with an average of 160 video visitation sessions held each day across the country in CSC’s institutions, a significant increase from the 41 sessions held on average daily pre-pandemic.

Release of Offenders

While being a full participant in the Canada-wide public health effort to fight COVID-19, CSC continues to fulfill its obligations with respect to the care and custody of inmates to prepare them for safe release into the community.

CSC and the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) continue to process eligible inmates for release in accordance with the law. A number of considerations go into release decision-making with public safety being the paramount consideration. COVID-19 and other health related issues are only one of the many considerations taken into account when releasing offenders into the community.

CSC, in consultation with PBC, has worked to streamline the case preparation process for offenders. In addition, PBC is working to ensure cases are dealt with as expeditiously as possible, while continuing to use risk- and evidence-based decision-making.

Since the beginning of March 2020, the federal custody population has declined by 1,598 inmates (as of October 31, 2021). This reduction is the result of fewer admissions from the provinces and territories, coupled with continued releases into the community. This downward trend in the federal inmate population is expected to continue over the coming months.

CSC is engaging with community partners on an ongoing basis to ensure that offenders on conditional release have a safe, secure and supportive environment to which they can return. This is an important part of any safe and successful release into the community.

Reduced Staffing Due to Self-Isolating

CSC assesses operational decisions around schedules and activities on a regular basis when taking into consideration staffing levels. Staffing levels are monitored and assessed daily and adjusted, as required. On-site staff are showing flexibility and some have worked extended hours to meet the operational requirements of running Institutions.

Programming During COVID-19

Correctional programming remains an essential part of reintegration. Offenders continue to participate in on-site programming and activities that support their rehabilitation and progress.

Shaping the New Normal

CSC developed a national Integrated Risk Management Framework, endorsed by the Public Health Agency of Canada, to guide its new normal. The framework identifies correctional activities, risks, and mitigation strategies to protect staff and offenders, while respecting the law and delivering CSC’s legislated mandate. If, at any time, the COVID-19 risks associated with an activity change, the framework identifies the actions CSC will take in response. CSC continues to adjust restrictions and respond as required based on information and advice from public health authorities.

Most employees whose work can be done remotely continue to work from home. Building and office occupancy is minimal and is mainly for employees whose work and/or ability to work requires them to be onsite.

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