Corrections and Conditional Release Act

Marginal note:Principles that guide the Service

4 The principles that shall guide the Service in achieving the purpose referred to in section 3 are

• (a) that the protection of society be the paramount consideration in the corrections process;

• (b) that the sentence be carried out having regard to all relevant available information, including the stated reasons and recommendations of the sentencing judge, other information from the trial or sentencing process, the release policies of, and any comments from, the National Parole Board, and information obtained from victims and offenders;

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

• (d) that the Service use the least restrictive measures consistent with the protection of the public, staff members and offenders;

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

• (f) that the Service facilitate the involvement of members of the public in matters relating to the operations of the Service;

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

• (h) that correctional policies, programs and practices respect gender, ethnic, cultural and linguistic differences and be responsive to the special needs of women and aboriginal peoples, as well as to the needs of other groups of offenders with special requirements;

• (i) that offenders are expected to obey penitentiary rules and conditions governing temporary absence, work release, parole and statutory release, and to actively participate in programs designed to promote their rehabilitation and reintegration; and

• (j) that staff members be properly selected and trained, and be 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.