Make a complaint about the Whitehorse Correctional Centre

• Provides independent oversight of Whitehorse Correctional Centre (WCC) by carrying out investigations and inspections.
• Ensures a timely, fair and impartial review mechanism for client complaints related to the correctional centre.
• Reviews inmate discipline on appeal.
• Recommends improvements to policy, procedures and correctional practices.

 

The director of ISO may investigate any matter that falls under the Corrections Act:

• at the request of the Assistant Deputy Minister of Community Justice and Public Safety; or
• on the director’s own motion.

 

ISO has unrestricted access to:

• inmates;
• documents; and
• the correctional centre.

 

ISO can compel corrections staff to:

• answer questions;
• provide information; and
• provide evidence.

Complaints 

1. The WCC client should first try to resolve the issue with WCC staff.
2. If that does not work, they may submit a written complaint to WCC.
3. WCC is required to respond within 7 days.
4. If the WCC client does not receive a response within 7 days or believes the response is unfair they may write to ISO to request a review of the response and complaint issue.

 

For any questions or concerns WCC clients can phone ISO for free. The ISO office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phone: 867-456-6597.

Appeals of disciplinary hearings

If a WCC client believes the disciplinary hearing is unfair, within 7 days of the hearing a WCC client may request ISO review the hearing. For any questions or concerns WCC clients may make a free call to ISO during business hours at 867-456-6597.

• 2018 Investigations and Standards Office Annual Report
• 2017 Investigations and Standards Office Annual Report
• 2015 and 2016 Investigations and Standards Office Annual Report
• 2014 Investigations and Standards Office Annual Report
• 2013 Investigations and Standards Office Annual Report

Under the Corrections Act and Regulations:

• ISO has to carry out inspections of Whitehorse Correctional Centre; and
• ISO reports on its findings and recommendations to the Deputy Minister of Justice.

The Deputy Minister must respond in writing within 90 days. They must indicate any proposed action to be taken as a result of the report.

2016–17 ISO inspection

Download the report.

Focus: use of force

Findings:

• 41 findings
• 10 recommendations

Focus of recommendations:

• Training
• Policy
• Documentation
• Authorities
• Recording of information and evidence

Focus: use of separate confinement

Findings:

• 38 findings
• 14 recommendations

Focus of recommendations:

• External independent review of separate confinement
• Safeguards on over-use of separate confinement
• Best practices in relation to younger persons in custody
• Segregation-like conditions in another unit of WCC
• Access to fresh air and regular contact
• Policies and documentation

Outcomes:

• August 2017: submitted inspection report to the Deputy Minister of Justice.
• Department of Justice responded to the ISO inspection report and accepted 19 recommendations; partially accepted 4 recommendations where 4 follow-up questions were posed; and did not accept 1 recommendation.

2014 ISO inspection

Download the report.

Focus: complaint process

Findings and recommendations:

• 20 findings
• 6 recommendations

Focus of recommendations:

• Implementation of an electronic tracking system
• Documentation
• Complaint response processes and follow-up
• Training of correctional officers
• Visibility of ISO information within the units

Focus: use of long-term confinement

Findings and recommendations:

• 24 findings
• 9 recommendations

Focus of recommendations:

• New or improved documentation and filing methods
• Explore the independent review of separate confinement
• Internal and cross-jurisdictional review of mental health and separate confinement policies
• Policy implementation and specialized training for staff working in segregation units

Outcomes:

• September 2014: submitted inspection report to the Deputy Minister of Justice.
• Deputy Minister responded to the ISO inspection report and accepted all recommendations.
• Corrections drafted a work plan capturing the intended actions to address the recommendations.

2011 ISO inspection

Download the report.

Focus: use of segregation or separate confinement

Findings and recommendations

• 4 findings
• 4 recommendations

Focus of recommendations:

• Inmate notifications
• Documentation and tracking
• Inmate placement reviews

Focus: sentence calculation, pre-discharge reviews

Findings and recommendations

• 6 findings
• 4 recommendations

Focus of recommendations:

• Policy updates aimed at quality assurance
• Adherence with existing policy
• Documentation

Outcomes:

• November 2011: submitted inspection report to the Deputy Minister of Justice.
• The Deputy Minister responded to the ISO inspection report and accepted all recommendations.
• Corrections drafted a work plan capturing the intended actions to address the recommendations.