Policy 2.3 - Cooperative Forestry Corrections Program

Effective Date: 01-Apr-93
Responsible Branch: Silviculture Branch

Resource Management Volume Table of Contents | Amendment Log

Scope

This policy describes the Cooperative Inmate Forestry Work Agreement between the Ministry of Forests and the Ministry of Attorney General.

Policy

The purpose of the Cooperative Inmate Forestry Work Agreement is to provide forestry-oriented work for inmates.

The work will mutually benefit the Province of B.C., the Ministry of Forests, the Ministry of Attorney General, and the inmates involved. The work should:

• contribute to the management of the province's forest resources
• help cover the costs of accommodating inmates in provincial correctional centres
• provide inmates with constructive work experience and allow them the opportunity to acquire work skills which are transferable to the community

Types of Work

The types of work carried out under this agreement include:

• silviculture activities which increase the growth rate, quality, and value of the province's forest resources
• other forest management activities which contribute toward the province's objective of integrated management of the forest resource, including:
  • forest protection, fire prevention, and fire-fighting activities
  • road maintenance activities
  • production of lumber and other wood products for use by provincial government ministries
  • other related activities as described in local agreements

Cooperation of Ministries

The Ministry of Forests and the Ministry of Attorney General will cooperate to implement and operate the program. The Ministry of Forests will be responsible for:

• providing an annual plan which identifies work locations and standards for a variety of forest management activities
• monitoring the quality of work performed by the inmates to ensure that work standards and specifications are met
• providing supplies of salvage quality timber to the Corrections Branch (timber supply will come from existing cutblocks or blowdown areas, and does not exceed 3000 cubic metres annually)

The Ministry of Attorney General will choose suitable inmates and provide inmate transportation, supervision, and pay, as well as all necessary clothing, equipment and tools.

Together, the ministries will develop annual local agreements which describe and define local implementation plans. Also, they will ensure that projects are operated cost-effectively.

Sale and Use of Inmate Wood Products

Wood products produced by inmates will not be sold on the open market by any ministry or government agency, including the Corrections Branch. They will be paid for by the receiving party at prescribed rates determined by the local agreement.

The Corrections Branch may only use received wood products for:

• construction and maintenance of correctional facilities
• firewood supplies for correctional facilities
• community service projects, with approval of both ministries
• inmate hobby projects

Surplus materials or products may be donated to non-profit projects and organizations for public benefit upon approval of both ministries.

Funding and Revenue

Where appropriate, the Ministry of Forests may award direct contracts to the Corrections Branch for proposed work, and pay for work based on achieved goals.

Any revenue generated from the sale of inmate-produced wood products will be used to continue the operation of the Cooperative Forestry Inmate Work Agreement. If there is a surplus, the funds will be contributed to inmate housing costs.

Local Agreements

The ministries will prepare annual local agreements, which will describe and define:

• types of project work to be done
• number of inmates required
• hours and duration of time that inmates will work
• rates of pay of inmates (paid by Corrections Branch)
• if and how much Corrections Branch will be paid via direct contract for work performed
• local liaison staff from both ministries
• record keeping for use in annual evaluations and reports
• responsibility for equipment purchase and maintenance
• timber supply volumes for use by Corrections Branch

Provincial and local committees consisting of key staff from each ministry will meet annually or bi-annually to review and discuss issues relating to the main agreement, local agreements, and the status of local projects.

References

• Memorandum of Agreement between the Ministry of Forests and the Ministry of Attorney General