Ontario Prisoners’ Resource Guide
A city-by-city guide to services and supports for people leaving prison in Ontario, including housing, food, counselling, legal and community resources.
Resources
Knowledge is a form of support.
A growing collection of practical guides, reports and tools for incarcerated people, families, advocates and communities.
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Comprehensive guides and reports covering community support, human rights and systemic issues affecting federally sentenced people.
Human Rights of Federally-Sentenced Persons
The Senate committee’s comprehensive examination of human rights in Canada’s federal correctional system, with findings and recommendations.
Injustices and Miscarriages of Justice Experienced by 12 Indigenous Women
A report examining systemic inequality, discrimination and miscarriages of justice experienced by 12 Indigenous women.
Know your rights
Practical prison booklets
Plain-language booklets published by the Office of Senator Kim Pate for prisoners and families.
Temporary Absences
Types of temporary absences, eligibility, applications, decision-making and what to do after a refusal.
Open PDFFiling a Grievance
How to document a problem, prepare a grievance and move through the federal grievance process.
Open PDFSearches
Rights and standards related to cell, frisk, strip and other searches in federal prisons.
Open PDFBuild Your Own Record
Practical guidance for keeping organized records of decisions, incidents, requests and responses.
Open PDFHuman Rights Complaints
Information about bringing a complaint to the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
Open PDFSegregation
Information about isolation and segregation, documenting conditions and seeking accountability.
Open PDFSource: Resources for Prisoners and Families, Office of Senator Kim Pate
Indigenous release pathways
Sections 81 and 84 resources
Information and editable letter templates related to Indigenous community involvement in custody and release planning.
Sections 81 and 84 booklet
A detailed guide to these provisions of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and the roles that Indigenous communities can play.
Open PDFRelease letter templates
These official editable resources are provided as Microsoft Word documents.
Individual release letter, Section 84Download Word template
Individual release letter, Section 81Download Word template
Community release letter, Section 84Download Word template
Community release letter, Section 81Download Word template
Additional Sections 81 and 84 paper
Independent oversight
Correctional Investigator reports
Recent annual reports and selected investigations from Canada’s independent federal prison ombudsman.
Annual Report 2024-25
Six national investigations focused on mental health care, cognitive needs, trauma, discharge planning and culturally informed services.
Annual Report 2023-24
Systemic findings on grievances, Indigenous corrections, long sentences, security classification, transfers and conditions of confinement.
Annual Report 2022-23
Findings and recommendations addressing conditions of confinement, equity, health, reintegration and CSC accountability.
Selected issue reports
Focused investigations chosen for their continuing relevance to incarcerated people, families and advocates.
Cognitive Disorder in Prison
A rapid review of prevalence, risks, assessment, accommodations and service responses for people with cognitive disorders in custody.
Trauma in Federally Sentenced Women
An investigation into trauma screening, assessment and access to dedicated psychological supports for federally sentenced women.
The Offender Complaint and Grievance Process
A compliance review examining accessibility, fairness, timeliness and accountability within CSC’s internal grievance system.
Hope Behind Bars
An investigation into the management of life sentences, prolonged higher-security placement and barriers to rehabilitation and release.
Ten Years since Spirit Matters
An assessment of progress and continuing failures in Indigenous corrections ten years after the original Spirit Matters investigation.
Experiences of Black Persons in Federal Penitentiaries
An updated national investigation into systemic barriers, discrimination, correctional outcomes and the experiences of federally incarcerated Black people.
Looking for an older report?
Browse all 52 annual reports directly through the Office of the Correctional Investigator.
View full archive
Federal law and CSC policy
Understand the rules
The legislation, regulations and operational policies that govern federal corrections in Canada.
Corrections and Conditional Release Act
The CCRA establishes the legal framework for federal custody, rights, decision-making, conditional release and independent oversight.
View current ActCorrections and Conditional Release Regulations
The CCRR provides detailed rules and procedures made under the CCRA.
View current RegulationsAll Commissioner’s Directives
The complete official CSC directory, including current directives, guidelines and policy bulletins.
Browse full directoryFrequently used Commissioner’s Directives
A shorter starting list for issues most likely to affect incarcerated people and their families.
Rights, Health and Family Contact
Searches, Classification and Transfers
These links open the official government versions so readers receive the most current available law and policy.
Court access
Judicial review and self-representation
A practical starting point for challenging federal correctional decisions and helping an incarcerated person prepare their own case.
30-day warning
Identify the decision and act quickly. A notice of application under section 18.1 of the Federal Courts Act is generally filed within 30 days after the decision is communicated. Do not assume that a complaint or grievance pauses or restarts that deadline.
Official procedure chartStart with the decision and the record
A clear record helps the applicant identify the decision under review, the legal issues and the remedy they will ask the Court to grant.
- Identify the exact decision, the decision-maker, the date it was received and the result being requested.
- Keep the written decision, reasons, complaints or grievances, responses, correspondence, case notes and proof of important dates.
- Decide whether an available complaint, grievance or other internal review step should be completed first.
- Check jurisdiction, Form 301, filing and service requirements, the fee, supporting affidavits and any Rule 317 request for the decision-maker’s material.
- Seek legal advice quickly where possible, especially when a deadline, urgent harm or an application for interim relief is involved.
The usual path and the exceptional one
Courts normally expect a person to use an available and adequate internal complaint, grievance or review process before asking for judicial review. Keep copies of every submission and response.
When waiting may not be effective
In exceptional circumstances, a person may seek judicial review before the internal process is complete, particularly where the issue is urgent and that process cannot provide an adequate and timely remedy. The Court decides whether proceeding early is justified. The application should explain, with evidence, why waiting would not be effective and what serious prejudice may occur.
Urgency does not automatically excuse the ordinary process. Interim relief normally requires a separate motion, a clear factual record and prompt action.
Read the Federal Courts ActHelping someone represent themselves
A family member, friend, advocate or volunteer can provide practical support while the incarcerated person remains responsible for their own case.
- Organize documents by date and prepare a clear timeline and index.
- Type or transcribe the applicant’s own instructions, then proofread and format the material.
- Locate official legislation, rules, forms and court decisions.
- Track deadlines, filing and service steps, and help contact the Registry or a legal clinic.
Important boundary: The applicant should decide what to file, confirm every fact, sign their documents and swear or affirm their own evidence. A supporter is not automatically authorized to act as counsel or speak for the applicant in court.
Dorsey v. Canada (Attorney General)
The litigation began as Dorsey, Newton and Salah. Newton later ceased to be a party, and the Supreme Court appeal proceeded for Frank Dorsey and Ghassan Salah.
This was a habeas corpus case in a provincial superior court, not an ordinary Federal Court judicial review. The Supreme Court held that refusing a transfer to a lower-security institution can amount to a deprivation of residual liberty that is reviewable through habeas corpus. An applicant must show a deprivation of liberty and raise a legitimate ground to question whether it is lawful.
The correct court procedure still depends on the nature of the issue and the relief required. Dorsey is an important remedy example, not a substitute for advice about a particular case.
Official court resources
Use the current court versions when preparing documents.
General information only: This section is not legal advice. Court rules and deadlines can change, and the correct remedy depends on the facts. Check the official sources and seek legal advice where possible.
Official CSC forms
Forms for families and visitors
Official Correctional Service Canada forms used to apply for regular visits and Private Family Visits at federal institutions.
Before you apply
Forms 0653E and 1279E must be submitted together. Include Form 0653-01E when a child will be visiting. Download the forms on a computer, print, complete and sign them, then mail them to Visits and Correspondence at the institution. CSC does not accept faxed or electronic visiting applications.
01
Regular visits
Form 0653E
Required
Visiting Application
The main visitor application. CSC requires two current photographs and copies of two current government-issued IDs, including at least one photo ID.
Download official PDF
Form 1279E
Required
Institutional Access: CPIC Clearance Request
Authorizes the criminal record check used to assess access to a CSC institution. Submit it with Form 0653E.
Download official PDF
Form 0653-01E
If a child visits
Visiting Application: Child Safety Waiver
Complete and submit this form with the visiting application when bringing a child to visit.
Download official PDF
02
Private Family Visits
Form 0531E
PFV
Statement of Voluntary Participation and Consent
For people participating in a Private Family Visit. The completed form must be witnessed and signed, then mailed or hand-delivered with photographs of all participants.
Download official PDF
Form 0530E
If applicable
Declaration of a Common-Law Union
May be required when a common-law partner applies to participate in a Private Family Visit.
Download official PDF