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Updates to CSC’s administrative segregation directive

Following a constitutional challenge to the administrative segregation scheme (currently under reserve at the British Columbia Court of Appeal), the Correctional Service of Canada amended its directive on administrative segregation.

Below is a summary of the main changes:

  1. Elder visits. An Elder will be designated to visit inmates and provide ongoing counselling services, if requested.
  1. Access to lawyers. CSC must allow lawyers to be present at Segregation Review Board hearings and make submissions on inmates’ behalf. Also, inmates who request to call their lawyers will be allowed to make such calls in a reasonable period of time and in a private area outside the cell.
  1. Recommendations from health care professionals. Health care professionals in the institution can (for health reasons) can make written recommendations to the Institutional Head that the conditions of confinement be altered or that the inmate be removed from administrative segregation. The Institutional Head must, without delay, implement the recommendation or provide an explanation as to why it will not be implemented.
  1. Outdoor exercise time. Inmates will now receive 1.5 hours every day (not just 1 hour) of outdoor exercise time. If the weather does not permit outside exercise, then time will be provided for indoor exercise.
  1. Changes specific to Pacific Region. There are a number of changes specific to the Pacific Region, which are related to the total time offenders will get outside of their cells, procedures upon admission to segregation, advising counsel of review hearings, and 15 day segregation reviews.
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