In June 2019, “Damage/Control: Use of force and the cycle of violence and trauma in BC’s federal and provincial prisons” was published by the West Coast Prison Justice Society/Prisoners’ Legal Services. The report analyzes law and policy governing the use of force by correctional officers in light of interviews with over 100 federal and provincial prisoners. The report finds that both CSC and BC Corrections officers use force in response to prisoners in emotional distress and as a tool to coerce compliance, even when there is no immediate risk to safety. It argues that relying on physical force in these circumstances creates an adversarial environment that compromises safety and wellbeing for both prisoners and staff.
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Experiences of mental health issues
To BC Corrections
Regarding training
Recommendation 8: Expand training on conflict resolution, de-escalation skills, nonviolent crisis intervention and working with people with mental health disabilities. This should be designed in conjunction with mental health experts and people with lived experience.-
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To BC Corrections
Regarding training
Recommendation 9: Require advanced training in working with people with mental health disabilities for all Mental Health Liaison Officers as well as staff working on mental health and no-violence units, in segregation, and as members of ERTs as a prerequisite for performing these roles. Require regular refresher courses.-
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To BC Corrections
Regarding prisoners with physical and mental health disabilities
Recommendation 10: Create specialized officer-nurse teams to respond to situations involving emotional or medical distress using joint decision-making. This could follow models in the community that pair specially trained police with psychiatric nurses to respond to emergencies involving people with mental health issues.-
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To BC Corrections
Regarding prisoners with physical and mental health disabilities
Recommendation 11: Develop an alternative model for recognizing and responding to prisoners with mental health disabilities in crisis, in partnership with the Provincial Health Services Authority (including the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital) and people with lived experience. This includes prisoners in emotional distress (such as prisoners who are self-harming) as well as prisoners who are experiencing behavioural emergencies connected with their disabilities. These responses should be supportive and trauma-informed rather than punitive.-
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To BC Corrections
Regarding prisoners with physical and mental health disabilities
Recommendation 13: Identify an expert who can play a role similar to the Force Options Coordinator in reviewing uses of force against prisoners with mental health disabilities to identify problems and solutions.-
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To BC Corrections
Regarding prisoners with physical and mental health disabilities
Recommendation 14: Transfer authority for interventions to address self-harm and suicidality, including restraints, observation cells and suicide smocks, to the Provincial Health Services Authority. Eliminate the use of the BOARD and WRAP, except where authorized by the Provincial Health Services Authority for medical purposes.-
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To BC Corrections
Regarding prisoners with physical and mental health disabilities
Recommendation 15: Select officers who excel at conflict resolution and empathy to work as Mental Health Liaison Officers and on therapeutic units, and involve the Provincial Health Services Authority in their training.-
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To the Provincial Health Services Authority
Recommendation 40: Ensure post-use of force medical assessments include an assessment of the prisoner’s mental state and any potential impact on the prisoner’s mental health. When indicated, monitor and treat prisoners for for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.-
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To the BC Government
Recommendation 46: Expand the mandate of, and allocate funding to, the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital to house prisoners with serious mental health disabilities who are under the jurisdiction of BC Corrections on a long-term basis.-
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To Correctional Service Canada
Regarding use of force policy and practice
Recommendation 50: Restrict the use of force in response to self-harm to circumstances where there is an imminent risk of grievous bodily harm.-
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