Policy bulletin 631

Number: 631
In Effect: 2019-03-25

• Commissioner’s Directive (CD) 048 – Information Sharing and Provision of Support Services Associated with Coroner’s/Medical Examiner’s Death Investigations or Inquests/Inquiries
• Guidelines (GL) 048-1 – Information Sharing and Provision of Support Services Associated with Coroner’s/Medical Examiner’s Death Investigations or Inquest/Inquiries

CD 048 and GL 048-1 have been updated to include procedures and direction for providing support services in relation to Coroner’s/ Medical Examiner’s death investigations or inquests/inquiries when the death of an offender occurs under Correctional Service of Canada’s (CSC) jurisdiction/custody.

The updated Commissioner’s Directive and associated Guidelines contain significant changes for staff across the Service with respect to the roles and responsibilities related to deaths in custody. This includes changes from the day of the death to the reception of recommendations stemming from an inquest/inquiry.

The Incident Investigations Branch revised the Commissioner’s Directive and associated Guidelines in consultation with various CSC sectors, regions and internal and external partners.

Roles and responsibilities are detailed in the policy documents.

All CSC staff responsible for coordinating, managing or responding to requests and recommendations put forth to CSC during a Coroner’s/Medical Examiner’s death investigation or inquest/inquiry into the death of a federally sentenced offender.