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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Government of Canada
To Correctional Service Canada
Regarding internal use of force reviews
Recommendation 68: Significantly increase the number of national-level use of force reviews. At the very least, CSC national should review all uses of force involving prisoners with mental health disabilities, all uses of force at treatment centres, all uses of ERTs and all cases involving allegations of misconduct (including but not limited to excessive force) or failure to follow policy.-
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To Correctional Service Canada
Regarding internal use of force reviews
Recommendation 69: Use of force reviews should identify the number of previous uses of force against the same prisoner. For prisoners who are repeatedly subject to force, develop a plan to reduce uses of force, in conjunction with a clinical team for prisoners with disabilities, and automatically review subsequent uses of force at the national level. If force is not reduced, conduct a national investigation.-
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To Correctional Service Canada
Regarding internal use of force reviews
Recommendation 70: Allow prisoners to have uses of force against them reviewed at the national level upon request and without having to go through the grievance process.-
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To Correctional Service Canada
Regarding internal use of force reviews
Recommendation 71: When an officer fails to follow policy on use of force, review subsequent uses of force by that officer at the regional or national level.-
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To Correctional Service Canada
Regarding internal use of force reviews
Recommendation 72: Use of force reviews should include a description of the prisoners’ evidence. When a prisoner alleges misconduct and the review determines no wrongdoing, the decision maker should include an assessment of the evidence and reasons for preferring one witness’s evidence over another’s.-
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To Correctional Service Canada
Regarding internal use of force reviews
Recommendation 73: In the absence of objective evidence, do not conclude a use of force was appropriate. If the prisoner says force was abusive or unjustified and there is no video or other objective evidence, conclude that the appropriateness of the force is undetermined.-
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To Correctional Service Canada
Regarding prisoner voices and prisoners’ access to their own personal information
Recommendation 74: Inform the prisoner as to whether the incident will be subject to a Level 1, 2 or 3 review and advise them of the timeline for the review.-
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To Correctional Service Canada
Regarding prisoner voices and prisoners’ access to their own personal information
Recommendation 75: Interview prisoners as part of all regional and national-level use of force reviews.-
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To Correctional Service Canada
Regarding prisoner voices and prisoners’ access to their own personal information
Recommendation 76: Provide prisoners and their counsel the opportunity to see video of uses of force against them upon request. Provide officers’ observation reports and a copy of all use of force reviews without requiring a Privacy Act request from the prisoner.-
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To Correctional Service Canada
Regarding post-use of force medical assessments
Recommendation 77: Ensure that medical assessments after acts of force are used solely to support the wellbeing of the patient and document signs of ill-treatment. Any signs of ill-treatment must be reported to senior CSC operational and medical staff and the Office of the Correctional Investigator.-
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