Canadian Corrections: History, Schools, and Practices

What does 'Corrections' encompass?

The structure, policies, and programs used to sanction, punish, treat, or supervise individuals accused and convicted of criminal offenses.

What is the definition of punishment?

The act of inflicting a consequence or penalty on someone due to their wrongdoing.

What is the process of correctional change?

Correctional change occurs when the severity of punishment is modified, explanations of criminal behavior change, new structural arrangements are established, or the number of offenders involved in the correctional process changes.

What were the forms of punishment in the Pre-Middle Ages?

Responses to crime were based on punishment, often gruesome, designed to stigmatize offenders, including banishment and reparations.

What is the British Legacy in corrections?

The first house of corrections was built in Bridewell, London in 1557, and England's Bloody Code included over 200 laws punishable by death.

When was capital punishment ended in Canada?

1976

What was Canada's sole method of capital punishment?

Hanging

What is the Classical (Conservative) School's perspective on crime?

Criminal behavior results from rational choice, where individuals weigh potential positives and consequences before committing crimes.

What does the Positivist (Liberal) School believe about crime?

Criminal behavior is determined by biological, psychological, and sociological factors beyond the individual's control.

What is the Critical (Radical) School's view on crime?

Crime is a social construct reflecting power relations and inequality in society.

What is the function of retribution in punishment?

To ensure the offender receives what they deserve, focusing on moral accountability and justice.

What is the goal of denunciation in punishment?

To express society's disapproval of criminal behavior and reinforce moral and legal values.

What are the two types of deterrence?

General deterrence discourages the public by making an example of the offender; specific deterrence discourages the individual offender from reoffending.

What is the goal of incapacitation in corrections?

To protect society by removing offenders from the public.

What is the goal of rehabilitation?

To reform offenders and help them re-enter society as law-abiding citizens through education, therapy, and job training.

What is restorative justice?

An alternative approach focusing on repairing harm caused by crime rather than punishing the offender, involving all affected parties.

How does retributive justice differ from restorative justice?

Retributive justice focuses on establishing guilt and meting out painful sentences, while restorative justice focuses on identifying needs and obligations to make wrongs right.

What is punitive penology?

A response to crime characterized by hard punishment and strict enforcement of laws.

What is penal populism?

Shaping criminal justice policy based on public opinion and political popularity rather than research or expert advice.

When was the first Canadian penitentiary established?

The Kingston Penitentiary in Ontario was built in 1835.

What was the purpose of the Brown Commission established in 1848?

To investigate conditions and management of the Kingston Penitentiary after reports of abuse and harsh treatment of inmates.

What were the conditions like in early provincial prisons and local jails?

Deplorable conditions where prisoners had to pay for meals and services, leading to extended jail time for those unable to pay.

What did the Penitentiary Act of 1906 achieve?

It separated young offenders and those with mental health disorders from the general population and expanded the powers of federal penitentiary inspectors.

What is probation?

A court-ordered period of supervision in the community allowing offenders to remain free under specific conditions instead of serving time in prison.

How has probation changed since its introduction?

Originally for first-time offenders serving less than 2 years, it now aims to avoid incarceration and facilitate rehabilitation.

What characterized the years of innovation in Canadian corrections from 1970 to 2000?

These years were marked by dynamic changes in correctional practices, including a shift towards rehabilitation and treatment.

What significant report influenced Canadian corrections?

The Fauteux Report.

What was created in 1982 that guarantees rights for Canadians?

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

What federal legislation governs the correctional system in Canada?

The Corrections and Conditional Release Act, created in 1992.

What is the Risk-Needs-Responsibility (RNR) Model?

A framework guiding effective offender rehabilitation, determining who should be treated, what they should be treated for, and how treatment should be delivered.

What were the main causes of the Kingston Penitentiary Riot in 1971?

Poor conditions, such as overcrowding and poor treatment of inmates.

What are the Pendulum Swings in Canadian corrections?

The shift from a conservative view of crime as a moral problem to a more modern view relating crime to poverty, mental illness, and marginalization.

What two important reports focused on women offenders in Canada?

Creating Choices (1990) and The Arbour Report (1996).

What is the primary mandate of Canadian corrections?

Protection of society, balancing punishment with treatment.

What is the role of the Office of the Correctional Investigator (OCI)?

An independent federal agency that investigates complaints and ensures compliance with laws and directives.

What factors contribute to Indigenous overrepresentation in Canadian corrections?

Historical colonization, systemic racism, poverty, and health disparities.

What unique needs do women offenders face in the correctional system?

Distinct pathways to crime, histories of trauma, substance abuse, and socio-economic disadvantages.

What are the goals of sentencing according to section 718 of the CCC?

To achieve justice and proportionality, including protection of society, deterrence, rehabilitation, denunciation, and reparation.

What is the difference between conditional sentences and probation?

Conditional sentences are court-imposed custodial sentences served outside prison, while probation is supervision instead of custody.

What are the responsibilities of probation officers?

To supervise offenders, provide rehabilitative support, monitor compliance with court orders, and facilitate reintegration.

What are intermediate sanctions in community corrections?

Programs or penalties between probation and full incarceration, such as house arrest and intensive supervision.

What is the purpose of Gladue reports?

To provide judges with history and context regarding Indigenous offenders to consider alternatives to incarceration.

What is the significance of the Two-Year Rule in Canadian corrections?

The provincial/territorial system manages 97% of convicted offenders with sentences under two years.

What are some challenges faced by correctional institutions?

Overcrowding, mental health issues, violence, and diverse offender needs.

What is the focus of regional treatment centres and Indigenous healing lodges?

To address mental health, rehabilitation, and culturally appropriate interventions for Indigenous offenders.

What are problem-solving courts?

Specialized courts aimed at addressing underlying causes of offending, such as drug and mental health courts.

What is the role of community corrections?

To supervise offenders in community settings instead of incarceration, focusing on rehabilitation and public safety.

What is the maximum sentence in Canadian law?

Life imprisonment, which may involve parole eligibility after a specific period.

What are special judicial sanctions?

Community service, restorative justice programs, and other specialized sentences.

What is the significance of the 'Who' and 'What' of corrections?

It identifies the various stakeholders involved in corrections and the philosophy guiding responses to offenders.