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Abstract: 

This report documents the findings of a review of day reporting centers (DRCs) currently operating in Canada, the ways in which they are similar to or different from other programs that research has shown to be effective, and recommendations for further consideration. For the purpose of this report, all DRCs included in this review are providing services to federal offenders on conditional or legislated release in the community. All programs are delivered by the nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) under contract with the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC). A total of 21 DRCs are currently operating, in various stages of implementation, in five provinces. When reviewing the operating practices of the DRCs it became apparent that although all shared the same name and overarching goal of the safe reintegration of offenders, there were few similarities in the models of service delivery, funding models, program use, or data collection. This appears to be consistent with the models in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Generally, DRCs seem to be considered more as an accepted concept, rather than as a model for direct replication. This report attempts to provide a guide for further implementation of DRCs based on the principles of effective correctional interventions. The report concludes that DRCs can be an effective tool within the continuum of community correctional interventions, with flexibility to allow for customization based on unique demographics and specialized populations.

Keywords:  Continuum of care; High-risk/needs offenders

Affiliations:  1: St. Leonards Society of Toronto.