» A centre’s count exceeded the design
capacity;

» No beds of an appropriate security level were
available in other adjacent centres; or

» Transportation to such centres was
impractical.

Promoting health of inmates

In September 1991, Branch management
decided to develop a health promotion initiative
to address the following issues:

« Smoke-free jails;

« Low fat or vegetarian diets;

« Infectious disease prevention;
« Provision of condoms; and

» Fitness programs within the organization.

No smoking policy in provincial jails

Although partially exempting correctional
centres from the 1990 declaration of
smoke-free government work sites in B.C., the
deputy attorney general requested the
Corrections Branch to plan for the elimination
of smoking within centres. The Branch moved
towards a smoking ban in adult centres as part
of its health promotion initiative, and
Vancouver Pretrial Services Centre introduced a
total smoking ban in September 1993.
Garnering a fair amount of media coverage in
Vancouver, the plan included the following
components:

» Restricting smoking to outdoor patios and
gym yard;

» Limiting inmates’ purchase of cigarettes to
one package per week; and

» Offering reduction programs to inmates in
the first month of the new policy to assist in
the transition.

Changes in food and nutrition standards

The standard Branch menu was revised to
include healthier choices. As part of this
process, guidelines for food and nutrition were
created, Following these guidelines, a new
menu was developed for adult males, females
and youths. In addition, the standard menu
included a vegetarian alternative menu. These
changes responded to numerous requests from
inmates and the ombudsman’s office for meals
that conformed to special dietary
requirements.”!

Strategies to combat the spread of
infectious diseases

In the 1980s, the Corrections Branch
acknowledged the spread of AIDS, hepatitis
and other infectious diseases. Responding
primarily through education, the Branch
distributed a new policy in 1989 on infection
control and guidelines for prevention and

7)
education.

This policy required correctional centre
directors, in conjunction with health care

21 Special dietary requirements may arise due to health issues, or for religious reasons.

22 Institutional Services Manual of Operations, British Columbia Ministry of Attorney General, Corrections Branch,

March 1989.

The Era of Risk Management (1990-1997)

191