In 2015-16, the B.C. government is investing almost $221 million in BC Corrections.

BC Corrections has 55 community corrections offices, supervising approximately 22,000 clients, and nine provincial correctional centres, housing approximately 2,400 inmates.

B.C.'s Correctional Centres

BC Corrections has now completed phase one of its historic $185-million capital expansion plan to add 340 cells, which includes:

• 216 cells at Surrey Pretrial Services Centre (opened in February 2014).
• 104 cells at Alouette Correctional Centre for Women (opened in October 2012).
• A 20-cell expansion for women at Prince George Regional Correctional Centre (opened in December 2010). 

To date, BC Corrections has hired almost 200 additional staff during the first phase of this expansion plan, bringing the total of new staff hired since 2007 to 440.

The opening of a 216-cell expansion made Surrey Pretrial Services Centre (SPSC) the largest provincial correctional facility in B.C. The project created 250 jobs during construction and opened up the equivalent of 130 full-time correctional positions.

The $45-million expansion project at Alouette was completed on budget and created 125 jobs during the construction phase. Now that the project is complete, 55 full-time correctional officers have been hired to staff the expansion.

The Okanagan Correctional Centre (OCC), a 378-cell, high-security facility, is the centrepiece of the second phase of BC Corrections' capital expansion plan. Construction is expected to be complete in 2016.

The B.C. government signed an historic agreement with the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) on March 20, 2013 to build the OCC on OIB land. It is the first such partnership between BC Corrections and a First Nation in British Columbia.

In January 2014, Plenary Justice was selected as the preferred proponent to design, build, partially finance and maintain the OCC.

The OCC project will generate significant economic benefits for the region, including the creation of up to 500 direct and 500 indirect construction jobs, as well as approximately 240 new, full-time correctional positions when the centre opens.

The OCC will more than double corrections capacity in the Interior and contribute to an overall increase of almost 800 new cells on the Lower Mainland and in B.C.'s Interior and North since 2008.

BC Corrections is rolling out its Integrated Corrections Operations Network (ICON II) - also known as eServices - in correctional centres and community corrections offices throughout BC. 

eServices - the first of its kind in Canada - is a computer system that provides inmates with secure access through the use of biometrics to their confidential legal and personal information including: disclosure materials for trial, their accounts and upcoming court dates, and the ability to book medical appointments - all at the touch of a fingerprint. 

Suitable clients in the community will be able to access their personal information and report to their probation officer through the new system, which will track progress and compliance with court orders.

Guthrie House at Nanaimo Correctional Centre is the only Therapeutic Community (TC) substance abuse program in a Canadian correctional centre. It won the Premier's Award for Innovation in 2012 and research has shown the TC contributes to a 33-per-cent reduction in recidivism.

Community Corrections

340 probation officers and managers have completed initial training from the evidence-based program, Strategic Training Initiative in Community Supervision (STICS).

STICS targets probationers' pro-criminal attitudes through influencing behaviour change. A national evaluation found the STICS program can reduce recidivism by up to 38 per cent.

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 213-3602