We concluded that the Department of Justice did not make satisfactory progress on selected observations and recommendations from our 2015 audit. We found that most of the issues facing the department in terms of supporting inmate rehabilitation and operating its correctional facilities remained unresolved.

Case management: Inmate needs assessments, case management plans, and release plans were not regularly completed for most of the inmate files examined. However, efforts are underway to develop case management standards and improve documentation.

Rehabilitation programs: The Department of Justice introduced some new culturally relevant rehabilitation programming, but overall, adult inmates still did not have consistent access to rehabilitation programs, or to mental health services.

Segregation: The Department of Justice adopted a new approach to segregation aimed at keeping inmates in segregation for the shortest time possible but did not provide staff with formal training or procedures on how to place and monitor an inmate in segregation.

Capacity: The Department of Justice increased capacity to house male inmates with the addition of a new facility in 2015 and a second one expected to open in 2021. However, there is still a lack of capacity for female inmates.

Staffing: All facilities had high staff-vacancy rates for critical positions, and the Corrections Division did not have a human resources plan to address challenges in recruitment and retention. A new software system is being implemented to better manage staff scheduling and overtime.

Safety and security: The Department of Justice could not demonstrate that cell searches and fire drills and evacuations were completed as required across all facilities. Overall, 5 of 7 facilities carried out fire drills and evacuations as required during the 2020–21 fiscal year.

Concluding message: Continuing to make progress on these issues is important because providing programs and supports to inmates in a safe and secure environment helps promote their healing and reintegration into their communities.