Whitehorse Daily Star

YG seeks better-managed correctional facilities

The Yukon government is researching how to better manage youth and adult correctional facilities and cases in the territory.

By Emily Blake on January 11, 2018

The Yukon government is researching how to better manage youth and adult correctional facilities and cases in the territory.

In an expression of interest (EOI) issued on Dec. 13, the government says it is requesting information to assist with a new facility management and case management system.

This includes information on technology and business processes that are already operating in other jurisdictions.

The EOI poses 23 questions aimed at assisting the government’s understanding of the software market and how other jurisdictions operate.

“The EOI is being undertaken as a measure of due diligence to see if there is an existing system being used that will be more effective and economical compared to a custom build,” Megan Foreman, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice, told the Star via email.

The EOI notes that a new integrated case and facility management system will reduce liability and risk while improving decision-making and client service.

“Corrections is in the unenviable position of maintaining client data both manually and within multiple databases that do not communicate with each other leaving the business open to varying degrees of legal exposure,” it states.

This has also resulted in the duplication of data, lack of information exchange, complicated workflow, enforcement concerns and inability to meet statistical requirements for the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, it adds.

And there is a lack of integration with other justice partners including the courts, police and prosecution services.

“This has resulted in inefficient business processes; poor data quality; limited ability for reporting and analysis; and increased risk of liability,” the EOI states.

The project scope includes facility and case management as well as security requirements for youth files.

And the new corrections system must interface with the court and victims services modules which track criminal court matters and victims seeking services.

It will also include managing information at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre (WCC), Offender Supervision and Services (OSS), Adult Processing Unit, Youth Offenders Facility, Whitehorse Youth Probation and Regional Services.

Currently neither the WCC nor OSS “has effective means to document, amalgamate or share data in a timely manner,” according to the EOI.

The EOI explains offender facility management includes intake, safe housing, scheduling, medical care and internal disciplinary hearings.

Meanwhile, case management includes tracking court orders and dates, sentencing plans, programming, rehabilitation and reintegration, community supervision and the general well-being of youth and adult offenders.

This information is important for the courts when it comes to sentencing and assessing criminogenic risk. It also assists with supervision and helping offenders on court orders.

“An integrated facility management and case management system will enhance our ability to do this effectively and efficiently,” Foreman explained.

Respondents have until Jan. 15 to submit their responses to the government project manager.

Once research is concluded, the government may use this information in a tender or request for proposals for a new integrated system.

Comments (4)

Up 1 Down 0

save some $$$ on Jan 17, 2018 at 7:40 am

While they are at it, shut down the money pit youth jail. WHY A cook, admin, management, 3-4 front line staff?
CM software has been a well known issue for a long time. Been a solution bought and installed. What's wrong with it, if the public only knew the wasted money spent/wasted- sickening.

Up 2 Down 1

Robert Scott on Jan 13, 2018 at 4:36 pm

The Yukon government has known about this problem for many years. Sadly, there was no will to deal with it until now. It's hard to believe the electronic systems in place can't work together. Worse news is your still relying on paper file. Pretty sad in this day and age. I'd like to think senior management has been and is more competent than what this shows. They just might be, I'm sure our political folks had as much or more of a hand in courting this disaster.

Up 2 Down 0

HereWeGoAgain on Jan 12, 2018 at 9:31 pm

The Offender Management System at the Federal level would surely address the EOI. The wheel does not have to be reinvented as most things in the Correctional world just gets rebranded. Yet again there is tail chasing going on because downtown does not talk to people on the hill.

Up 2 Down 0

Lost In the Yukon on Jan 11, 2018 at 4:27 pm

One would hope that they have already decided/come to agreement on what the purpose of the program(s) is and what outcomes they are hoping to achieve.

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