NCJ Number
181138
Date Published
1999
Length
76 pages
Annotation
The Working Group on Human Rights was convened by the Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) to consider human rights compliance in community corrections, to compare the Canadian approach to community corrections with other countries, to identify specific human rights issues in the community corrections context, and to determine whether the CSC has adequate guidelines and procedures for dealing with human rights issues.
Abstract
The working group applied a strategic model for monitoring human rights compliance to community corrections and took into account human rights needs of released offenders, victim concerns, and the role of the community in fostering safe and effective reintegration. In addition, the working group considered ways in which the CSC could enhance its ability to communicate the rationale and goals of community corrections more effectively. The working group found that some of the more positive aspects of community corrections-- notably, ways in which offenders may be assisted to reintegrate and active community involvement in that process-- were not fully articulated in both policy and practice. The monitoring and evaluation of human rights issues in community corrections tended to focus heavily on compliance with procedural requirements of a technical nature but should have been more systematic and more directly related to substantive issues. The social and human rights significance of community corrections was not fully communicated to the community at large or to CSC personnel. Supplemental information and recommendations resulting from the working group's review are appended. 95 references