2024-25 Reporting on the Calls for Justice 14.1 to 14.13: Calls for Correctional Service Canada

In the 2024-25 fiscal year, CSC continued to strengthen relationships with Section 81 facilities, ensuring Indigenous women have access to safe and supportive reintegration housing. CSC also completed a review of minimum-security units with a view to ensure Indigenous women's timely access to rehabilitation programs.

This initiative responds to Call for Justice 14.1 by prioritizing the establishment of Section 81 Healing Lodges and exploring additional community-based housing opportunities for Indigenous women offenders. CSC is reviewing its programs, tools, and services to ensure they effectively support Indigenous women's reintegration needs. These measures address systemic barriers that persistently disadvantaged certain groups of offenders in custody and provide essential rehabilitation support in a culturally safe environment. Indigenous families, survivors and communities benefit from this initiative by ensuring Indigenous women have access to healing-focused, community-based alternatives to incarceration.

• Expansion of Section 81 healing lodges and safer alternatives options: CSC continues to prioritize placement in Section 81 Healing Lodges and is exploring additional culturally relevant reintegration facilities to provide safer alternatives to incarceration.
• Culturally responsive rehabilitation programs: CSC is revising and implementing correctional programs tailored to Indigenous women's unique needs, ensuring they have access to culturally grounded healing and rehabilitation services.
• Enhanced reintegration supports: Efforts include improving Indigenous women's timely access to programs and services, including through a review of minimum-security units. Efforts are also being made to reduce the disproportionate suspension and revocation rates of Indigenous women.
• Expansion of the Mother-Child program: Policy will be reviewed with a view to removing barriers for Indigenous women to maintain familial bonds while incarcerated.

CSC is committed to increasing available beds in Healing Lodges. The initiative receives ongoing funding, with additional investments planned to support new agreements. CSC continues to allocate resources to revise and implement correctional programming for Indigenous women. Investments in culturally relevant rehabilitation services remain a priority.

In 2024–25, CSC began work to examine how best to implement the insights from the completed research on culturally informed risk assessment for Indigenous peoples. This included continued engagement with external, independent experts to develop evidence-informed and culturally responsive approaches to strengthen the assessment and classification process for federally sentenced Indigenous individuals. Building on the foundation of the earlier research, CSC is collaborating with Indigenous partners to review findings and identify additional measures to enhance classification practices. Using a phased implementation approach, the project will improve correctional service delivery, ensure classification decisions reflect Indigenous realities and protective factors, and support a more culturally responsive correctional system for Indigenous peoples.

This initiative responds to Call for Justice 14.4 by ensuring that security classification scales and risk assessment tools account for the unique backgrounds, needs, and realities of Indigenous individuals in federal custody. The initiative prioritizes the integration of gender-sensitive, culturally relevant, and Indigenous-informed ways of knowing into the classification process. Research efforts are aimed at mitigating systemic biases that have contributed to the over-classification of Indigenous offenders to higher security levels, thereby improving access to rehabilitation opportunities and community reintegration pathways. By refining security classification processes, this initiative cultivates an approach that is not only evidence-based but also supports the self-determination and healing of Indigenous individuals within the correctional system.

Indigenous families, survivors and communities benefit from this program through increased fairness in classification decisions, improved reintegration prospects, and a correctional approach that is more responsive to Indigenous cultural and social contexts.

• Culturally responsive classification tools: Research and development of security classification frameworks that incorporate Indigenous perspectives and cultural considerations.
• Enhanced rehabilitation pathways: Improved classification methods contribute to better access to correctional programming, education, and healing initiatives for Indigenous individuals.
• Reduced overclassification: Identification of systemic biases in existing risk assessment tools helps reduce unnecessary placement of Indigenous offenders in high-security settings.
• Community-centered engagement: Collaboration with Indigenous stakeholders ensures that classification practices align with community values and support reintegration efforts.

The initiative is supported by CSC's Research Branch, with collaboration from the University of Regina.

In 2024- 25, the CSC engaged with and funded community partners who are able to provide culturally responsive interventions as well as reintegration support to Indigenous individuals who are exiting the corrections system. Partners included organizations across multiple provinces, reflecting a regional diversity of support.

• Funded partners serving First Nations, Métis and Inuit people included:
  • First Light St. John's Friendship Centre (St. John's, Newfoundland),
  • Lavers House/Dimas Society (Truro, Nova Scotia),
  • Les Services Parajudiciaires Autochtones du Québec (Wendake, Quebec),
  • the First Peoples Justice Centre of Montreal (Montreal, Quebec),
  • BUILD Inc. (Winnipeg, Manitoba), and
  • The Elizabeth Fry Society of Cape Breton (Sydney, Nova Scotia), and
  • the Native Clan Organization (Winnipeg, Manitoba).
• Funded partners serving First Nations and Métis people included:
  • Long-Term Inmates Now in the Community – Emma's Acres (Mission, BC),
  • M2W2 Association (Abbotsford, BC), Squamish Nation (North Vancouver, BC),
  • Tl'etinqox First Nation (Alexis Creek, BC),
  • the Circle of Eagles Lodge Society (Vancouver, BC),
  • Acimowin Opaspiw Society (Saddle Lake, Alberta), and
  • Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest (Kingston, Ontario).
• Funded and engaged partners serving First Nations people included:
  • Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre (Halifax, Nova Scotia),
  • Bent Arrow Healing Society (Edmonton, Alberta),
  • File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council (Fort Qu-Appelle, Saskatchewan),
  • Kainai (Stand Off, Alberta),
  • Meadow Lake Tribal Council (Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan),
  • St. Theresa Point (St. Theresa Point, Manitoba),
  • Yorkton Tribal Council (Yorkton, Saskatchewan),
  • James Smith Cree Nation (Melfort, Saskatchewan),
  • Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (Akwesasne, Quebec) , and
  • the Kahnawake Mohawk Council (Kahnawake, Quebec).
• Funded and engaged with partner serving Métis people:
  • Métis Nation Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)
• Funded and engaged with partners serving Inuit:
  • Makivik Corporation (Saint-Laurent, Quebec), and
  • Iqaluit Community Tukisigiarvik Society (Iqaluit, Nunavut)

This initiative responds to part of Call for Justice 14.6 by delivering trauma-informed services, addiction treatment, and life skills counseling to support the mental health and well-being of incarcerated Indigenous women. It also includes gang disaffiliation programming with the aim of addressing one of the underlying factors responsible for cycles of incarceration. The expansion of reintegration supports and strengthened engagement with remote Indigenous communities contribute to a more holistic and culturally responsive transition to community life. Efforts to increase awareness of Correctional Service Canada programs within Indigenous communities enhance accessibility and support continuity of care upon reintegration into the community.

By prioritizing mental health services and culturally grounded reintegration support, this initiative acknowledges the impacts of colonial violence, intergenerational trauma, and systemic discrimination on Indigenous women in the criminal justice system. Indigenous families, survivors and communities benefit from this program through improved reintegration outcomes, reduced recidivism rates, and stronger community connections that foster healing and long-term well-being.

• Expanded Mental Health and Trauma Services: Indigenous women offenders receive culturally appropriate mental health, trauma, and addiction services.
• Increased Community Capacity for Reintegration: Indigenous communities receive support to engage in reintegration planning and capacity development.
• Enhanced Cultural Connections: Programs include mentorship from Elders, access to cultural teachings, and life skills training tailored to Indigenous traditions.
• Reduction in Recidivism: By equipping Indigenous women with support systems and tools for rehabilitation, this initiative aims to reduce reoffending.
• Support for Indigenous-Led Healing and Rehabilitation: Funds are allocated to Indigenous organizations to develop and implement community-driven reintegration programs.

This work is funded on an ongoing basis by $3.5 million (not specific to women offenders, but services are accessible to them) in existing funding. Funds are distributed through the Deputy Commissioner for Indigenous Corrections and Regional Deputy Commissioners.

ICCI responds to part of Call for Justice 14.6 by funding projects that can provide comprehensive mental health, addictions, and trauma services to Indigenous offenders during their reintegration process. Services are provided on an as-needed basis for the duration of the projects are not tied  on sentencing length or incarceration duration. Community-led and culturally appropriate  services are offered only to ICCI project participants. ICCI acknowledges the importance of providing culturally relevant trauma-informed and needs-based care beyond the criminal justice system. ICCI participants will receive the holistic and culturally appropriate supports they need to heal and reintegrate into communities successfully, with a view to reducing the overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in the criminal justice system.

• Culturally appropriate support services: Indigenous offenders receive a variety of culturally appropriate support services rooted in Indigenous knowledge and practices.
• Alternatives to incarceration: ICCI promotes community-based justice initiatives and fosters restorative approaches.
• Gender-specific and inclusive programming: Services are expanded and tailored to specifically address the needs of Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals involved with the criminal justice system.
• Community-led reintegration efforts: ICCI funds grassroots organizations that work with  Indigenous offenders in transitioning back to their communities with the necessary services and support structures in place.

In Budget 2022, ICCI was allocated $56.01 million over five years, starting in 2023 with $5.21 million and $12.7 million per year in ongoing funding thereafter. A national Call for Applications was conducted between March and June 2023, with successful applicants notified in October 2024. As of June 2025, project development is ongoing with successful applicants, with project implementation anticipated to begin in 2025-26.

The 2024-25 review process included consultations with financial and operations staff at OOHL, identifying key needs such as a driver or work release coordinator to facilitate escorted temporary absences and work releases. Through its assessment of OOHL's resource capacity, WOS is working to secure adequate funding to address staffing needs and enhance rehabilitative support. Efforts to securing sustainable funding to implement these improvements are ongoing.

The initiative responds to Call for Justice 14.6 by working to secure adequate funding to address staffing needs and enhance rehabilitative support and ensuring culturally safe services and resources for incarcerated Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. This initiative benefits Indigenous families, survivors and communities by ensuring Indigenous women in custody receive the culturally responsive support necessary for their rehabilitation and reintegration.

• Supports Indigenous healing: Supports Indigenous women's rehabilitation and healing through culturally relevant programming.
• Strengthens Indigenous leadership: Nekaneet First Nation plays an active role in hiring and staffing decisions.
• Enhances reintegration opportunities: Enhances access to community-based reintegration opportunities, including escorted absences and work releases.
• Addresses staffing and funding gaps: Seeks to understand gaps in funding and staffing to ensure OOHL is equipped with adequate resources needed to operate at full capacity.
• Upholds Indigenous correctional models: Upholds Indigenous-led correctional models as viable alternatives to mainstream incarceration.

This initiative responds to part of Call for Justice 14.8 by acknowledging and addressing the distinct needs of Indigenous women offenders. CSC is revising Indigenous programming to provide an immersive cultural environment for rehabilitation. Additionally, CSC has taken steps to ensure correctional programming considers Indigenous women's lived realities, including intergenerational trauma and culturally appropriate healing practices. Indigenous families, survivors and communities benefit from this initiative by ensuring Indigenous women in the correctional system receive culturally safe and trauma-informed rehabilitation services.

• Expansion of Section 81 healing lodges and  safer alternative options: CSC continues to prioritize placement in Section 81 Healing Lodges and is exploring additional culturally relevant reintegration facilities to provide alternatives to incarceration.
• Culturally responsive rehabilitation programs: CSC is revising and implementing correctional programs tailored to Indigenous women's unique needs, ensuring they have access to culturally grounded healing and rehabilitation services.
• Enhanced reintegration supports: Efforts include improving Indigenous women's timely access to programs and services, including through a review of minimum-security units. Efforts are also being made to reduce the disproportionate suspension and revocation rates of Indigenous women.
• Expansion of the Mother-Child program: Policy will be reviewed with a view to removing barriers for Indigenous women to maintain familial bonds while incarcerated.

CSC is committed to increasing available beds in Healing Lodges. The initiative receives ongoing funding, with additional investments planned to support new agreements. CSC continues to allocate resources to revise and implement correctional programming for Indigenous women. Investments in culturally relevant rehabilitation services remain a priority.