Office of the Correctional Investigator
Independent Ombuds and Oversight of Federal Corrections in Canada
Celebrating our 50th Anniversary 1973-2023
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Explore OCI's Reporting Priorities
Physical and Mental Health Care
The Correctional Service of Canada must provide essential health care in conformity with professionally accepted standards. From substance abuse and mental health services to physical well-being, health care continues to be a top concern.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Prisons often reflect the systemic inequalities and discrimination in society, from the over-representation of black people, to barriers faced by gender diverse individuals, religious minorities, and the elderly.
Women's Corrections
Women's corrections is a separate and unique area of correctional policy and practice, and a corporate priority for the Office of the Correctional Investigator.
Indigenous Corrections
Indigenous Peoples are over-represented in Canadian prisons. OCI reporting focuses on systemic barriers and disparate outcomes for Indigenous individuals under federal sentence.
Deaths in Custody and Mandated Reviews
The Correctional Service of Canada must ensure safe and humane custody. Deaths, serious bodily injuries, and use-of-force incidents in federal prisons are subject to mandated reviews conducted by the Office of the Correctional Investigator.
Release and Reintegration
The purpose of Canada's correctional system includes the reintegration and supervision of offenders in the community as law-abiding citizens. The Correctional Service of Canada must ensure the delivery of programs, including correctional, educational, vocational training, social programs, with a view to promoting rehabilitation and reintegration.
Conditions of Confinement
The Office of the Correctional Investigator monitors conditions of confinement including the quality and quantity of prison food, property and pay, out of cell time, sanitation, climate control, and placements in restrictive housing such as Structured Intervention Units.
Institutional Security and Safety
The Correctional Service of Canada is obligated to use the least restrictive measures consistent with the protection of society, staff, and the offender. The working and living conditions of staff and prisoners must be safe and free from practices that undermine personal dignity.
Our Mission
The mission of the Office of the Correctional Investigator is to ensure the fair and humane treatment of persons serving federal sentences. This is done by drawing attention to human rights obligations and holding CSC accountable for administering federal corrections in a way that is compliant to law, policy and fair decision-making.
Dr. Ivan Zinger
Correctional Investigator of Canada
Dr. Ivan Zinger received his degree in Common Law from the University of Ottawa in 1992, and completed his articles of clerkship at the Federal Court of Canada. In 1999, he obtained his Ph.D. at Carleton University (Ottawa) in Psychology of Criminal Conduct. He is an Adjunct Professor with the Law Department at Carleton University.