Correctional Institutions

Correctional Institutions

The Canadian Penitentiary

  • The first penitentiary in Canada opened in 1835.

  • Location: Kingston, Ontario.

Correctional Prison Models

  • Overview of Early Models: The initial prison models in the U.S. and Canada aimed to transform criminals into useful citizens through

    • Religious contemplation

    • Hard work

  • Pennsylvania Model: This model emphasized solitary confinement and reflection as means of rehabilitation.

  • Auburn Model: This model involved congregate labor systems and disciplined individual confinement.

Types of Correctional Institutions

  1. Minimum Security

    • Characteristics:

      • No perimeter fencing.

      • Unrestricted inmate movement, except at night.

  2. Medium Security

    • Characteristics:

      • High-security perimeter fencing.

      • Some restrictions on inmate movement.

  3. Maximum Security

    • Characteristics:

      • High-security perimeter fencing.

      • Highly controlled environment.

      • Inmate movement strictly monitored and controlled.

Correctional Facility Security

  • Fixed Security Apparatuses: Essential security features include:

    • Perimeter fencing

    • Video surveillance

    • Alarms

    • Fixed security posts

    • Control rooms

    • Position posts

  • Static Security: Engaging in ongoing interaction beyond mere observation.

    • Engaging with inmates: Correctional officers interact, provide suggestions, and offer support.

  • Dynamic Security: Represents an active presence and involvement of correctional staff in managing inmate behavior and conditions.

Meeting the Requirements of Law, Policy, and Legislation

  • Key points:

    • Law, policy, and legislation must be adhered to by all staff.

    • Essential for protecting inmate rights as outlined by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

  • Rule of Law

    • Ensures fairness in the correctional process.

    • Duty to act properly and justly toward inmates.

The Prison as a Total Institution

  • Sociologist Erving Goffman defined prisons as total institutions, where inmates experience absolute control over their lives.

Conditions in Correctional Institutions

  • The physical condition of correctional facilities significantly influences:

    • Inmate dynamics

    • Relationships between inmates and staff

    • Rates of violence among inmates.

Distribution of Adult Population in Federal Correctional Services in Canada (FY 2022)

  • Breakdown by self-reported race:

    • Other/unknown: 5.2%

    • Asian: 5.8%

    • Black: 8.1%

    • Indigenous: 28.1%

    • Hispanic: 1.1%

    • White: 51.8%

  • Source: Public Safety Canada, Statista 2025.

Emerging Research Results

Diversity in the Offender Population

  • Study Background: A 2012 study indicated a rise in visible minority groups within the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) population from 2000 to 2009.

  • Focus Area: Updated trends in diversity between FY end 2009-2010 and 2018-2019 are examined.

  • Methodology: Part I examines diversity trends using fiscal year-end data from 2009/2010 to 2018/2019.

  • Key Findings:

    • There was a peak in the number of Black offenders in both men (2015) and women (2013).

    • Fastest growing population: Men of Arab/West Asian descent, increasing by 60%.

    • Decline in the rate of growth of some ethnocultural groups within CSC’s population.

    • Overrepresentation of Indigenous men and women in the CSC population versus the general Canadian population.

  • Figure Results: Inclusion of graphical data on offender population by ethnocultural group from 2009-2019, highlighting disparities.

Women Offenders in-Custody at CSC

  • Between 2016-2021, the Indigenous women offender population rose across all regions, with the exception of Quebec Region.

  • Statistical representation of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous women offenders across several fiscal years:

    • 2016-2017: Indigenous at 90%, Non-Indigenous at 10%

    • In subsequent years, notable fluctuations, e.g., 2020-2021 observed trends showing an increase for Indigenous women.

The Use of Segregation

  • Example incident leading to independent inquiry:

    • Date: April 22, 1994

    • Event: Physical confrontation between inmates and correctional officers at Kingston Prison for Women.

    • Resulted in the formation of the Arbour Report.

Recruitment, Training and Authority of Correctional Officers

  • Correctional Officers (COs) possess considerable discretion:

    • This discretion encompasses daily activities and decision-making in rule enforcement.

Doing Time

  • Status Degradation Ceremonies: Process where offenders are psychologically stripped of their societal status, impacting their identity.

  • Pains of Imprisonment: Includes loss of:

    • Autonomy

    • Privacy

    • Security

    • Freedom of movement and association.

The Inmate Social System, Roles and "Code"

  • Examination of the informal social structures among inmates, including hierarchy and social norms regarding behavior and interactions.

Inmate Families

  • Families of inmates often experience feelings of:

    • Isolation

    • Neglect by correctional authorities.

Major Trends in Classification

  • Classification: The categorization of inmates based on assessment tools to determine:

    • Security levels

    • Program placements

  • Key aspects:

    • Utilization of risk and needs assessment instruments.

    • Dominance of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) perspectives in treatment approaches.

    • Differentiated treatment based on gender, race, and offense type.