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Listen to Prisons Inside/Out, a podcast from Correctional Service Canada. Follow along as we take you beyond the walls of our institutions, highlighting the important work we do to protect Canadians and change lives every day.
Todd: Java? Ready…fouille
Kirstan: Pacing through the warehouse aisles of Archambault Institution in Quebec, Detector Dog Java, and Detector Dog Handler. Todd are hard at work.
Todd (in French): Je vais aller. Ici. Up. Bon chien. On va l'amener ici
Kirstan: Todd and Java were demonstrating what a routine K9 search could look like inside of Canada's federal prisons. And though this was just a training routine for the 60-pound mixed breed chocolate lab, there was nothing routine about it...Java was on the job. Java's job, among other things, is to work alongside his handler, Todd, to prevent the flow of illegal drugs and contraband inside of our federal prisons. Java's reward for the work?
Todd (in French): Bon chien! Wouhou! Ah, c'est bon chien.
Kirstan: Well, it's playtime with a big grapefruit-sized Kong ball that Todd carries with him at all times. .
Kirstan: Java and Todd are one of many detector dog teams currently in operation across Canada's federal prisons. Together, through specialized training and an unbreakable bond these teams are responsible for hundreds of seizures every year. Preventing and reducing the number of contraband items and unauthorized items in correctional institutions is a priority for the Correctional Service of Canada, and on today's episode, we interview two employees who are helping do exactly that.
I'm your host, Kirstan Gagnon, and welcome to this episode of Prisons Inside Out.
Kirstan: Every year, diligent CSC staff members seize thousands of contraband items that have made their way into or around our federal prisons. In the last year alone, over 14,000 contraband or unauthorized items were seized inside federal correctional facilities. But what exactly are these items that are being seized? Well, it's mostly drugs, but in some cases, it can be weapons or even electronics, like cell phones too.
Kirstan: When such items find their way in, it jeopardizes the safety and security of everyone who lives or works there. Our staff and also the inmates in our care and custody. Seizures are only made possible by the professionalism and attentiveness of our frontline staff, who use several tools to prevent contraband items from entering our prisons. One of the techniques CSC employees is our Detector Dog program, which was responsible for more than 1200 seizures in 2023 alone.
Kirstan: Here to talk about the program and a bit more about how CSC is working to keep our institutions safe, are Correctional Officer and Dog Handler, Todd, and Security Intelligence Officer, Christian.
Kirstan: Welcome to the podcast, today I have Todd, who's a master of the Dog Detector Program.
Todd: Yeah, Dog Handler, search specialist.
Kirstan: And Christian, who's, um...
Christian: Security Intelligence Officer.
Kirstan: Perfect. Welcome. Hi. So, I'd like to talk to you, Todd, a little bit about your role in the Dog Detector Program. So, can you tell me a bit about how it started?
Todd: Yeah sure. I started in (19)87. At first, I was a correctional officer. And in 2001, the Correctional Service of Canada decided to open a new program with the dog handlers search specialist. I was fortunate enough to pass the contest and now a Dog Handler since 2001 for Correctional Service Canada.
Kirstan: Great. And what about you, Christian?
Christian: So, I started as a correctional officer at Leclerc Institution in 1999, and then I moved to Archambault Institution when I was a correctional officer, too. I became a Security Intelligence Officer in 2005.
Kirstan: And tell me a bit about your role as Security Intelligence Officer.
Christian: Yeah, our role change during the all the period of my career. But the main goal is to prevent incidents and to find ways to help the local administration to take the right decisions and...
Kirstan: The right tools?
Christian: The right tools and the right tools we need. Yeah.
Kirstan: And, Todd, you're kind of part of one of those series of tools through the Dog Detector Program specializing in detecting different types of contraband. Tell me a bit about that.
Todd: Uh, well, we started in 2001. It was the, um, CBSA (Customs Canada) Uh, they're the ones that give the program. It's a ten-week intensive course. So, we'll go there to the program. We have usually selected two dogs that were pre trained, and we start an intensive ten-week course. And when we finish the course, then we will return to our institutions and will be working with the dogs, uh, starting and retraining them to, to bring them to the highest level of, of detection possible.
Kirstan: And I had an opportunity to meet your dog earlier. Who is super cute and very attentive and alert. Tell me a bit about him.
Todd: Well, uh, I've had him for about three years. This is my third dog. I had a golden retriever, then I had a Labrador. Now I have a mix of, like, five different breeds. Uh, he's got a little a little more pep than some of the other ones. Uh, we have to adapt to our dogs. Uh, all the dogs that come out of CBSA are excellent detection dogs, they have a rigorous course and they're well known across Canada, United States, internationally. And Correctional Services Canada was fortunate enough to be able to mix with the CBSA, and our program is one of the best, if not the best program.
Kirstan: And I don't think that people always realize that these dogs are part of your family. They come home with you, that you have them 24/7 really.
Todd: They say it's a work dog for me is my little baby. Definitely. We get a very attached to the dogs. We work 24/7 he's, he's with me all the time. I spend more time with the dog than I do with humans, so it gives you an idea. during the work. Well of definitely, you know, we'll go around during our day doing searches and different, uh, different, uh, tasks with the dog he's very versatile. Will search the inmates. We can search vehicles. We can search around the kitchen area, um, different warehouses and, um, the dogs are very well, very well trained.
Kirstan: Yeah. And what I find most amazing is that the dog can, um, can detect items beyond drugs, um, to cell phones and different technology.
Todd: Yes, we're lucky enough, actually, at Archambault here to have, uh, one of the first dog handlers for electronic devices. And it's a great addition to the detector dog service. And there's a lot of people that want to become detector dog handlers, you know. Yeah, definitely. It's a real popular post.
Kirstan: Yeah. No doubt. Yes. And we talk about cell phones and us as humans were like, what does that smell a cell phone smell like? Um, but the dog's nose is really sharp. Talk to me about that.
Todd: The dog is able to detect everything separately, which is...That's what the main reason why the dog is, is so performant when it comes to finding drugs or electronic devices. Everything has a device, everything has a sorry, a smell, and the dog automatically will recognize that he knows he's going to get a reward when he shows us exactly where that odor is, where the source of that order is. And it's just a great thing to watch the dog's work. I hope I'm going to get a chance to show you a little bit later how the dog the dogs work. It's a real pleasure to see them go.
Kirstan: I look forward to it. And Christian, talk to me a bit about teamwork and how you work with your team to achieve results.
Christian: Well, the first step, we have the team as SIOs (Security Intelligence Officers). We started the day doing a round with all the information that has been provided by the staff members. Then we're going to go with the Correctional Managers and local administration to help them to take the right decisions. Then we want to work with correctional officers and dog handlers. Any activity that it's, uh, going to preserve the security of the institution.
Kirstan: And do you work with, um, apart from that staff, other staff and also community partners?
Christian: Yeah. For the community partners, our role is to be liaison with, uh, police services and all the intelligence agencies around the country so we can gather information and we can share information when we go with the local administration, we then give them the large picture of the situation.
Kirstan: I was wondering about, um, some of the most, um, the most frequently seized objects, um, that are not permitted in our institutions. Can you give me a bit of an example?
Christian: Yeah, the most frequent. Yeah, that we can see is a tobacco, uh, that, uh, legal into the community, but it's not permitted into the institutions. And then we have drugs, marijuana and, um, hashish. Uh, we have some hard drugs, but it's not the main, uh, seizures that we made. Hard drugs are not well seen into the institution by inmates because it is very dangerous. They don't have any control of the quality of them and the high risk to their lives.
Christian: So it's not the biggest thing we see. One of the more not dangers, but that that's going to jeopardize our security is the cell phones. It's very important for us to prevent that.
Todd: During the evaluations depending on the, the security and the risk that it brings in different contrabands, the evaluation is done, it definitely upgrades the consequence also to the inmates. So, this also becomes a real deterrent in certain areas like hard drugs. Cell phones are very taken very seriously now because it jeopardizes everybody.
Kirstan: And um, do you do a bit of awareness raising of your role with others in the community, and why is that important?
Todd: Yes, definitely. We try and show that the public exactly what we're doing for Correctional Service of Canada. Showing that the security of the institutions, how well, we're keeping the security, uh, as well as we are partners. A lot of times we were, um, actually called in to do either, uh, the Montreal port. We've worked in the airports, and we do have collaboration with other federal agencies, uh, in our role as a dog handler, even with Correctional Service of Canada.
Kirstan: And what about for visitors coming into institutions to visit, um, another inmate. Um, how do we make sure that they're aware of the rules?
Christian: We have a video that's shown into the waiting room for the inmate visitors. We also give them a share with them. Some documentations, uh, about the risks and, uh, what is expected from our visitor. However, I think it's, uh, one of our challenges is to communicate better with the population and all the Canadians to so they can understand better our role and, uh, why we have all this, uh, tools of searching and, uh, prevent, uh, incidents.
Todd: The role of the dog handler also were not always with the dog. Sometimes we'll be walking around just showing that the dog handler is there.
Kirstan: Okay.
Todd: Um, it definitely is a deterrent. Oh, yeah, definitely. Even the visit sometimes. Oh, they see the dog handler and they say, oh, yes. Have you ever been searched by the dog? We'll question them. Uh, we'll, we'll sort of explain to them, if they do get searched by the dog, it could happen. And if it does, it's just a part of the routine for the security of everybody. And we explain to see if they're nervous and we try and help all of them to come in to have a pleasant experience, you know, it is you're coming to a federal institution it's already a scary situation. So, the staff is there to try and you know, resecure people and say, listen, it's not that bad. The dog's a friendly dog, it's going to come sniff you and you're not going to have a problem. You'll be going to the visit and you're going to have a, a nice visit with, uh, with the person that you're coming to to see.
Kirstan: And in all fairness, I guess sometimes the person is legitimately afraid of a dog. That could happen, right?
Todd: Yes, definitely. It's one of the questions I will ask. I said, are you are you scared of the dog? If you are, and I give certain directions so that if that happens, I can always stop my search. And there's other ways of searching people. We don't necessarily always have to use the dog, so it depends on each situation. It's every situation is unique. So, we won't always use the dog. Sometimes we want to prefer using the dog. It depends on a lot of the information coming in and on the situation. As a Correctional Service Canada, they always tell the officers, you know, uh, try and look and find the best way. There's not one way. There's numerous ways to try and find the best way so that it's the least offensive towards the person either you're going to search or what you're going to do. So, it's the least restrictive. Yeah.
Todd: I love what I do.
Kirstan: And I just want to know more about, you know, what you're so proud of in this long career of yours.
Todd: Correctional Service of Canada has done me, um, so much justice. I've been able to go to the states and do competitions, international competitions. It's given me the chance to work with different SWAT teams and police forces. I've had a chance to be an instructor in firearms and chemical agents, assist other, other people learning, I've been recruiting people for the National in 37 years. I've done quite a bit. I'm still loving what I do, and I think that's that's the most important thing is whatever you find, you want to work, find something you love to do, and it's always going to be a pleasure.
Kirstan: What about you, Christian?
Christian: I'm very proud of, uh, the work we do to be sure that Canadians are safe and also inmates and staff member, you know. The main goal of all this work and, hard partnership, partnership with all the agencies is to keep the institution, safe for everybody. And I'm very proud of what we do each day to to maintain that goal. Um, in our minds, Correctional Services Canada I don't think it's well known by the population, and it's something that maybe we can do, you know, so Canadians are aware that we're there for them.
Todd: I'd just like to say, you know, Christian is very humble, but he's done quite a lot of things during this his years in the service. He doesn't really say too much, but we have a person that has a lot of experience and he's done a lot of things in the Service. So…happy to work with Christian.
Christian: Thanks, Todd!
Kirstan: And it also strikes me that, uh, this job, these jobs can't be done alone. Like, it just takes a village. It takes so many people to do effective corrections all around.
Todd: And it's a little family. You know, each institution, its own family. You have you have a doctors and physicians and psychologists and case management, nurses. It's really a little family amongst itself. And it's a pleasure because there's a lot of things that you learn while you're there in your workplace.
Kirstan: Great. And, um, in terms of your different roles at the service, um, do you often have inmates that thank you for your, your work or feel like you've made an impact? Um, because you're there for their rehabilitation. And, um, some of these individuals have had hard lives as well. And of course, some have done horrible things, as well. But you're here to in a way help with their rehabilitation. And so, do you have any examples of any impact that you've made?
Todd: I think just the fact that we're...we listen, we're very open to communication with them, especially now compared to back when I first started. The transition has made it a lot easier and a lot more helpful for the inmates to get help when they when needed and to communicate to together as you know, the, the object is for them to go back into society and become respectful citizens. So, I think that's a big, big, uh, plus the fact that we communicate with them and yes, they are, they might always not tell you, but you can you can tell that they're very happy that you're at least listening and you're trying to do something to help them, because we're really the first line of, of help for them.
Kirstan: So, treating them like humans.
Todd: Correct.
Kirstan: Yeah. And that respect I'm assuming goes both ways.
Todd: Definitely. Yeah, definitely.
Kirstan: What about you?
Christian: Inmates really have been judged and our job is not to judge them again. It's to help them to go back into society. And not most of the inmates understand our job, and our job is to prevent incidents, but also to help them to go out. Uh, maybe they have drug problems, uh, mental health problems, and to help them to to live with it. But still, I still have some inmates that still call me and tell me, hey, man, I'm outside. And now, uh, I'm an electrician, I work, I have kids, I have a life, and thanks. You know, because when we meet with you, it wasn't fun. But you make me understand that my decisions, my bad decisions can have an impact to a lot of people. And now I think about things you told me, and, uh, I changed my life.
Todd: Uh, with my number of years Uh, working in correctional service quite a few times, I've met people cross their paths with the inmates that are outside now in society. And, uh, it's nice to see they're doing...they've advanced. They're not back in the institution, and they've gotten their lives together. And, uh, sometimes I've even mistaken it. It says, hey, Todd, how are you and I? Fine, give me a I guess, shake their hand and how you been? And. Oh, very good. And what are you doing? And and then I realized, well, I'm talking to the person. I said, hey, this person. I know him from inside. I thought he was just somebody I had recognized. So, it's a nice it's a nice thing to see that, you know, people are have been changing and they're on the right path.
Kirstan: So that, um, judgment and better decision making really can lead to, uh, a better outcome. Well, thank you for being part of the interview today, it was wonderful.
Todd: Thank you.
Christian: Thanks. Thanks again.
Kirstan: Today's Common Correction is our inmates allowed to have personal property with them while incarcerated in a federal prison? The answer is yes. Inmates are, in fact, allowed to have property both in their cell and, in some cases, storage. However, the permitted type of property and quantity depends on the institution's security level. Once an inmate is admitted to CSC, they have a one-time entitlement to receive approved personal property items from outside sources like their family, and they must bring it in within a month.
This means certain items that are allowed inside of a medium, minimum, or maximum institution may not be the same. Here are some examples that may be allowed upon approval. Jewelry so long as it doesn't exceed $600 in value. Clothing items like sweatshirts and tank tops to turtlenecks and golf shirts. Musical instruments like guitars, electronics like a desk fan, headphones, a reading lamp, or even an older video game console that does not have data or other communication capability.
Personal care items like mugs, approved books and magazines, and personal photographs. The list of approved items is more extensive than you may think. If you're interested in learning more or reading through the entire list, check out the links we added in the show notes below. That's all for today's episode. Thanks again to Todd Christian and of course, Java for their time in helping to make this episode a reality. This has been a production of the Correctional Service of Canada. Thanks for listening and we'll see you next time.