CSC and the Office of the Correctional Investigator

The Office of the Correctional Investigator (OCI) serves as the independent ombudsman for federally sentenced offenders in Canada. It provides impartial oversight of the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) by investigating both individual complaints and broader systemic issues raised within federal correctional institutions.

Through accessible, timely, and fair investigations, the OCI helps ensure that the rights of incarcerated individuals are respected. Its work also supports CSC’s mandate to promote rehabilitation and maintain public safety by identifying areas for improvement across the correctional system.

For more information about the OCI, or to view OCI reports, visit their website:

• Office of the Correctional Investigator website
• Office of the Correctional Investigator: Reports

When the OCI releases a report, CSC carefully reviews the recommendations and provides a formal response. These responses outline the actions CSC has taken - or plans to take - to address areas of mutual concern. CSC continues to implement recommendations from past reports and has made progress in several key areas identified by the OCI.

• Response to the 52nd Annual Report of the Correctional Investigator 2024 to 2025
• Response to the 51st Annual Report of the Correctional Investigator 2023 to 2024
• Response to the 50th Annual Report of the Correctional Investigator 2022 to 2023
• Response to the 49th Annual Report of the Correctional Investigator 2021 to 2022
• Response to the 48th Annual Report of the Correctional Investigator 2020 to 2021
• Response to the 47th Annual Report of the Correctional Investigator 2019 to 2020
• Response to the 46th Annual Report of the Correctional Investigator 2018 to 2019
• Response to the 45th Annual Report of the Correctional Investigator 2017 to 2018
• Response to the 44th Annual Report of the Correctional Investigator 2016 to 2017
• Response to the 43rd Annual Report of the Correctional Investigator 2015 to 2016
• Response to the 42nd Annual Report of the Correctional Investigator 2014 to 2015

CSC also responds to thematic and investigative reports produced by the OCI. These reports address specific issues such as health, safety, and systemic concerns in federal corrections.

CSC’s response to OCI report ‘Third Status Update on COVID-19 in Federal Corrections’

Response to the Office of the Correctional Investigator’s Report - COVID-19 status update report (June 2020)

Response to the Office of the Correctional Investigator’s Report - COVID-19 status update report (April 2020)

Response to the Office of the Correctional Investigator's Report - Aging and Dying in Prison: An Investigation into the Experiences of Older Individuals in Federal Custody

Response to the Office of the Correctional Investigator's Report - Fatal Response: An Investigation into the Preventable Death of Matthew Ryan Hines

The Correctional Service of Canada's (CSC) Response to the Correctional Investigator's Report entitled Missed Opportunities: The Experience of Young Adults Incarcerated in Federal Penitentiaries

Response to the Office of the Correctional Investigator's Report In the Dark: An Investigation into Correctional Service of Canada's Information Sharing and Disclosure Practices Following a Death in Custody

Interim Response to the Office of the Correctional Investigator's Report on Information-sharing and Disclosure Practices Following a Death in Custody

Response of the Correctional Service of Canada to the Correctional Investigator's Report a Three Year Review of Federal Inmate Suicides (2011-2014)

Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) Response to the Correctional Investigator's Correspondence dated January 10, 2014 follow-up to the Kent Institution Investigation

Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) Response to the Correctional Investigator's Final Report: An Investigation of the Correctional Service of Canada's Mortality Review Process

CSC's Response to the Office of the Correctional Investigator's Report Spirit Matters: Aboriginal People and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act

The Correctional Service of Canada's (CSC) Response to the Office of the Correctional Investigator Report entitled: "An investigation into the Dangerous Use of Firearms at Kent Institution between January 8 and January 18, 2010"