Caseload capping

In the early 1990s, the Branch considered
creating the community equivalent of an
institutional bedload plan.” This plan would
allow overcrowding when caseloads reached a
certain level. Information in the plan would also
justify seeking additional resources from the
Treasury Board.

Although the plan was attempted, probation
officers experienced difficulty capping their
caseloads or refusing service to clients. One
exception was in the Interior region, where they
refused bail supervision cases. The
administrative procedures of probation officers
were also reviewed so they could spend less
time on file work.

In 1993-94, additional probation officers were
allocated. The boost in resources still did not
address the number of offenders under
community supervision. Created in response to
the Gamache case, the additional positions were
intended to monitor sex offenders and other
high-risk individuals under community
supervision,

Risk-based offender management was
introduced in 1995-96, Accounting for factors
related to risk, a probation officer determined
when it was acceptable to terminate supervision
of individual offenders through:

«» Administrative closure*9 of a case file; or

» Return of the case to court for review and
early termination.

Generally, these measures would apply to low
supervision cases. They would also be

considered after the offender satisfied one-sixth
of a sentence or 60 days following intake.

Safety concerns in community offices

When the number of high-risk offenders
supervised in the community increased,
probation offices raised safety concerns. The
installation of security devices upgraded offices
by making them mote secure. Safety of
administrative staff was a concern, given that
they are often the first staff to come in contact
with offenders. Shirley Maniec, Executive
Assistant in the ADM’s Office, highlighted this
problem:

U
50d Auinenary
ROVINCIAL cea

*

1992

eal _ conten vane Ts,
Bill Foster, Regional Director, Interior Region, at golden
anniversary of probation services in B.C. (in Kelowna,
1992) Corrections Branch Archives

29 A bedload plan determines the capacity of a correctional centre. This planned capacity enables management to
identify when overcrowding occurs so that additional resources can be considered.

30 Administrative closure of a file means that although the file is open, the offender has minimal contact with the
probation officer. Changes of address or employment might be reported to the supervising office.

The Era of Risk Management (1990-1997)

199