Grievance System

Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has an internal grievance procedure in which prisoners can try and resolve problems that arise within the system (eg. not getting proper health care, not getting access to family visits, being unfairly charged with an institutional offence etc). There are 3 levels to the greivance process (1st which is at the institutional level, 2nd which is at the regional level, and 3rd level which is technically the last level). After a prisoner has exhausted the third level grievance they can take their grievance to federal court. The grievance system was put in place to ensure prisoners were able to get access to a timely and fair process to their complaints. Unfortunately, this system has been an on-going failure and has not met the needs of prisoners. Several inquiries have been conducted to talk about the failures of the penal system and several of these public inquiries have criticized the grievance system (Arbour Report, several Correctional Investigator Reports and maybe others). Most of these public inquiries, investigations, inquests etc have stated that the grievance system should be an EXTERNAL process instead of the system investigating themselves (much like complaints of the police investigating the police). I have spoken to a few prisoners and we would like to create a research document outlining the critiques of the grievance system and recommendations to resolve this problem. I am wondering if you would be able to look into any sources that critique the Canadian Federal greivance system? I would like to create a background document with references to suggest why we need an external process. This could be a very effective advocacy tool to bring legislation forward to protect the rights of prisoners and their loved ones.