CD 566-9: Searching of Cells/Rooms, Vehicles and Other Areas

Institutional Search Procedures

• Approval and Training: Institutional Heads/District Directors approve search plans and ensure search personnel are trained.

• Vehicle Searches (Excluding Community Centres): Institutional Heads of non-community centres can authorize vehicle searches at the penitentiary under specific CCRA guidelines.

• Procedures and Quality Control: Deputy Wardens ensure documented procedures exist for searching cells, vehicles, and other areas, along with quality assurance/control, performance measures, and adherence to standards.

• Search Plan Development: Assistant Wardens, Operations/Area Directors develop search plans. They also ensure necessary search equipment is available and functional.

• Community Correctional Centre Management: Correctional Managers/Managers at Community Correctional Centres manage the search plan and assign personnel for searches.

• Search Personnel Responsibilities: Trained personnel conduct searches of cells/rooms and other areas following the search plan and complete/submit reports. Other staff (Shop Instructors, etc.) conduct routine searches of their designated areas.

Search Plan Details

• Plan Contents (All Institutions): All search plans, regardless of institution type, specify routine searches of cells/rooms and other areas at least once every 30 days. Annex B and C outline specifics for different institution types.

• Personal Effects Verification (Non-Community Centres): Non-community institutions require verification of inmates' personal effects against inmate property records.

• Searches in Presence of Another Staff Member: Routine searches of cells/rooms at all institutions (including community centres) must involve another staff member (excluding contractors).

• Indigenous and Sacred Items: Security examinations of Indigenous medicine bundles and other sacred items require the owner's (or authorised representative's) manipulation for visual inspection.

Non-Routine Searches

• Reasonable Grounds: Staff can search cells/rooms without prior authorization or another staff member's presence if they have reasonable belief contraband or evidence of an offence is present, and delaying the search would be dangerous or lead to loss/destruction of items.

• Emergency Searches (All Institutions): Institutional Heads can authorise emergency searches of cells/rooms and vehicles if they have reasonable grounds to believe contraband or emergency-related evidence is stored. Emergency searches are not counted toward routine cell searches.

Vehicle Searches (Additional Details – Excluding Community Centres)

• Non-Routine Vehicle Searches: Staff can search vehicles with prior authorization from the Institutional Head if they have reasonable grounds to believe contraband is present, and delaying authorization would endanger human life or lead to loss/destruction of the items.

• Emergency Vehicle Searches: Institutional Heads can authorize emergency vehicle searches if they believe emergency-related contraband or evidence is present.

• Exceptional Vehicle Searches (authorization): Institutional Heads may authorize written vehicle searches based on reasonable belief that the action is necessary to avert danger or to recover contraband.

Reporting Requirements

• Search Logs: Search logs (CSC/SCC 0845) must be completed for every search.

• Post-Search Reports: Post-search reports (CSC/SCC 1365) are required for non-routine searches and when items are seized. Emergency search reports must be submitted to Regional Deputies within five working days.

• Contraband/Unauthorized Items: Contraband/unauthorized items seized must be tagged (CSC/SCC 0482) and stored securely. Religious item seizures require consultation with elders/representatives/chaplains for respectful handling and disposal according to CD 568-5.