Operating context

CSC's responsibilities are derived from the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA) and the Corrections and Conditional Release Regulations (CCRR). The CCRA and CCRR outline CSC's responsibilities as:

• the care and custody of inmates;
• the provision of programs that contribute to the rehabilitation of offenders and to their successful reintegration into the community;
• the preparation of inmates for release;
• parole, statutory release supervision and long-term supervision of offenders; and
• maintaining a program of public education about the operations of the Service.

CSC develops, implements and monitors correctional policies, programs and practices that respect gender, ethnic, cultural and linguistic differences and are responsive to the needs of women, Indigenous peoples and other groups. CSC provides essential health care services and reasonable access to non-essential mental health care that contribute to offenders' rehabilitation and successful reintegration into the community. CSC provides services to victims of crime, such as information sharing and awareness building to support victims.

The evolving environment within which CSC operates requires a high degree of adaptability, flexibility and rigour. CSC has custody of offenders with extensive histories of violence and violent crimes, previous youth and adult convictions, and affiliations with gangs and organized crime. It manages an increasing number of women offenders as well as a disproportionate representation of Indigenous offenders as compared to the Canadian population. In addition, offenders may come into its jurisdiction with serious mental health disorders and other diseases and infections, such as Hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). CSC develops, relies on and benefits from a professional workforce of some 18,000 employees engaged in the success of its operation and the fulfillment of its mandate. Finally, to ensure the safety and security of the public, victims, staff and offenders, CSC continually invests efforts to maintain its 43 institutions, 14 community correctional centres and 92 parole and sub-parole offices.

CSC aligns its resources to support effective and efficient offender rehabilitation. CSC strives to achieve administrative efficiencies by streamlining its operations and program delivery. It optimizes available resources for its key priorities and core mandate and ensures that the organization continues to deliver strong public safety results for Canadians.