Canada’s Correctional System - BC Lesson Plan

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BC Social Studies Lesson Plans

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Canada’s Correctional System and Principles of Rehabilitation, Punishment, and Restorative Justice

Law 12

Topic

Canada’s Correctional System and Principles of Rehabilitation, Punishment, and Restorative Justice

Big Idea

Laws are interpreted, and these interpretations may evolve over time as a society’s values and worldviews change.

Essential Question

How do we balance principles of rehabilitation, punishment, and restorative justice in Canada’s Correctional System?

Learning Standards Content

Students are expected to know the following:

Canada’s correctional system and principles of rehabilitation, punishment, and restoration

Curricular Competencies

Students are expected to be able to do the following:

Analyze continuities and changes in legal systems or codes across jurisdictions (continuity and change)
Explain and infer multiple perspectives on legal systems or codes (perspective)

Core Competencies

Communication

Students can identify and communicate informed opinions regarding underlying principles of the corrections systems in Canada.

Thinking

Students can consider different factors involved in successful sentencing, release and reintegration in Canada’s correctional system.

Personal and Social

Students can explain how restorative justice helps offenders understand the consequences of their actions and develop empathy towards those affected by their actions.

First People's Principles of Learning

Laws are interpreted, and these interpretations may evolve over time as a society’s values and worldviews change.

Introduction

Four Corners Activity: Prompt students with statements, such as “The point of the criminal justice system is to punish criminals”. Then have them move to the corner of the room that reflects their opinion - agree, strongly agree, disagree, or strongly disagree. (See Materials and Resources for sample Four Corner Activity Statements)
After the activity, explain that our correctional system is based on a balance of different principles and give the definitions for punishment, rehabilitation, and restorative justice. (See Materials and Resources for Definitions for Students.)

Pre-Assessment

Four Corners Activity: Prompt students with statements, such as “The point of the criminal justice system is to punish criminals”. Then have them move to the corner of the room that reflects their opinion - agree, strongly agree, disagree, or strongly disagree. (See Materials and Resources for sample Four Corner Activity Statements)
After the activity, explain that our correctional system is based on a balance of different principles and give the definitions for punishment, rehabilitation, and restorative justice. (See Materials and Resources for Definitions for Students.)

Interactive Learning Activities

Revisit the principles of sentencing and statements from the Four Corners Activity by asking students to do a Think-Pair-Share (think of an answer, share with their partner, and then discuss as a class) for the following questions:
- How does Canada’s Correctional System punish offenders?
- Rehabilitate them?
- How is restorative justice used?

Encourage students to keep these principles of a corrections system in mind as they complete the Canada’s Correctional System worksheet using the educational modules from Correctional Services Canada.
When finished, have students read the article Canada’s Prisons are Failing from The National.
Inform students that they will be participating in a debate with the resolution “Canada’s Correctional System focuses too much on punishing the offender.”
Assign students to a side in favour or against the resolution. Students arguing in favour of the resolution, will discuss rehabilitative programs, recidivism and restorative justice. Students arguing against the resolution will argue that deterrence and punishment are the most important factors in a correctional system.
Provide students with the organizational sheet for planning: Debate: Rehabilitation, Punishment and Restorative Justice in Canada's Correctional System. Both sides must present statistics, case studies and/or philosophical arguments to argue the resolution.
*Note that this debate is structured for a class size of 30 but can easily be adapted for smaller groups.

Post Assessment

Students will be assessed individually on their preparation and performance in the debate using the Debate Rubric.

Extension Activities

Create a presentation on the evolution and changes in principles underlying Canada’s corrections system from the late 1800s to the present.

Additional References

Canada. 2020. “Correctional Service Canada.” https://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/index-en.shtml

Canada. 2020. “Corrections and Criminal Justice Policy.” Public Safety Canada.

https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/cntrng-crm/crrctns/crrctns-plc-en.aspx

Canada. 2020. “Corrections and Parole Issues.” National Defence.

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/reports-publications/proactive-disclosure/vac-estimates-budget/corrections-parole-issues.html

Canada. 2020. “How Sentences Are Imposed.” Department of Justice.

https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/victims-victimes/sentencing-peine/imposed-imposees.html

Canada. 2020. “Office of the Correctional Investigator.” https://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/index-eng.aspx

Legal Services Society of BC. 2020. “Gladue Rights.” Legal Aid for Aboriginal People in BC. https://aboriginal.legalaid.bc.ca/courts-criminal-cases/gladue-rights

Ling, Justin. 2019. “Canada's Prisons Are Failing.” CBA National Magazine.

https://www.nationalmagazine.ca/en-ca/articles/law/in-depth/2019/canada-s-prisons-are-failing

Book

Murphy, Terry, et. al. “All About Law: Exploring the Canadian Legal System.” 6th ed. Toronto, ON: Nelson Education Ltd., 2010.

Download Complete Lesson Plan

.pdf .docx

Legal Backgrounder

.pdf

Download the legal backgrounder

Materials and Resources

Canada's Correctional System

Handout

Debate: Rehabilitation, Punishment and Restorative Justice

Handout

Debate Rubric

Handout

Four Corners Activity: Statements

Handout

Know-Wonder-Learn: Sentencing and Canada's Correctional System

Handout

Canada's Correctional System

Answer key

Rate this Curriculum

Last Reviewed

March 01, 2023

Produced by JES

curriculum developers

LAW LESSONS

Curriculum Resources for Teachers.

Canada’s Correctional System and Principles of Rehabilitation, Punishment, and Restorative Justice

Law 12

Topic

Canada’s Correctional System and Principles of Rehabilitation, Punishment, and Restorative Justice

Big Idea

Laws are interpreted, and these interpretations may evolve over time as a society’s values and worldviews change.

Essential Question

How do we balance principles of rehabilitation, punishment, and restorative justice in Canada’s Correctional System?

Learning Standards
Content

Students are expected to know the following:

Canada’s correctional system and principles of rehabilitation, punishment, and restoration

Curricular Competencies

Students are expected to be able to do the following:

Analyze continuities and changes in legal systems or codes across jurisdictions (continuity and change)
Explain and infer multiple perspectives on legal systems or codes (perspective)

Core Competencies

Communication

Students can identify and communicate informed opinions regarding underlying principles of the corrections systems in Canada.

Thinking

Students can consider different factors involved in successful sentencing, release and reintegration in Canada’s correctional system.

Personal and Social

Students can explain how restorative justice helps offenders understand the consequences of their actions and develop empathy towards those affected by their actions.

First People's Principles of Learning

Laws are interpreted, and these interpretations may evolve over time as a society’s values and worldviews change.

Introduction

Four Corners Activity: Prompt students with statements, such as “The point of the criminal justice system is to punish criminals”. Then have them move to the corner of the room that reflects their opinion - agree, strongly agree, disagree, or strongly disagree. (See Materials and Resources for sample Four Corner Activity Statements)
After the activity, explain that our correctional system is based on a balance of different principles and give the definitions for punishment, rehabilitation, and restorative justice. (See Materials and Resources for Definitions for Students.)

Pre-Assessment

Four Corners Activity: Prompt students with statements, such as “The point of the criminal justice system is to punish criminals”. Then have them move to the corner of the room that reflects their opinion - agree, strongly agree, disagree, or strongly disagree. (See Materials and Resources for sample Four Corner Activity Statements)
After the activity, explain that our correctional system is based on a balance of different principles and give the definitions for punishment, rehabilitation, and restorative justice. (See Materials and Resources for Definitions for Students.)

Interactive Learning Activities

Revisit the principles of sentencing and statements from the Four Corners Activity by asking students to do a Think-Pair-Share (think of an answer, share with their partner, and then discuss as a class) for the following questions:
- How does Canada’s Correctional System punish offenders?
- Rehabilitate them?
- How is restorative justice used?

Encourage students to keep these principles of a corrections system in mind as they complete the Canada’s Correctional System worksheet using the educational modules from Correctional Services Canada.
When finished, have students read the article Canada’s Prisons are Failing from The National.
Inform students that they will be participating in a debate with the resolution “Canada’s Correctional System focuses too much on punishing the offender.”
Assign students to a side in favour or against the resolution. Students arguing in favour of the resolution, will discuss rehabilitative programs, recidivism and restorative justice. Students arguing against the resolution will argue that deterrence and punishment are the most important factors in a correctional system.
Provide students with the organizational sheet for planning: Debate: Rehabilitation, Punishment and Restorative Justice in Canada's Correctional System. Both sides must present statistics, case studies and/or philosophical arguments to argue the resolution.
*Note that this debate is structured for a class size of 30 but can easily be adapted for smaller groups.

Post Assessment

Students will be assessed individually on their preparation and performance in the debate using the Debate Rubric.

Extension Activities

Create a presentation on the evolution and changes in principles underlying Canada’s corrections system from the late 1800s to the present.

Additional References

Canada. 2020. “Correctional Service Canada.” https://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/index-en.shtml

Canada. 2020. “Corrections and Criminal Justice Policy.” Public Safety Canada.

https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/cntrng-crm/crrctns/crrctns-plc-en.aspx

Canada. 2020. “Corrections and Parole Issues.” National Defence.

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/reports-publications/proactive-disclosure/vac-estimates-budget/corrections-parole-issues.html

Canada. 2020. “How Sentences Are Imposed.” Department of Justice.

https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/victims-victimes/sentencing-peine/imposed-imposees.html

Canada. 2020. “Office of the Correctional Investigator.” https://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/index-eng.aspx

Legal Services Society of BC. 2020. “Gladue Rights.” Legal Aid for Aboriginal People in BC. https://aboriginal.legalaid.bc.ca/courts-criminal-cases/gladue-rights

Ling, Justin. 2019. “Canada's Prisons Are Failing.” CBA National Magazine.

https://www.nationalmagazine.ca/en-ca/articles/law/in-depth/2019/canada-s-prisons-are-failing

Book

Murphy, Terry, et. al. “All About Law: Exploring the Canadian Legal System.” 6th ed. Toronto, ON: Nelson Education Ltd., 2010.

Curriculum

Curriculum

Curriculum

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BC Social Studies Lesson Plans

Canada’s Correctional System and Principles of Rehabilitation, Punishment, and Restorative Justice

Topic

Big Idea

Essential Question

Learning Standards Content

Curricular Competencies

Core Competencies

First People's Principles of Learning

Introduction

Pre-Assessment

Interactive Learning Activities

Post Assessment

Extension Activities

Additional References

Download Complete Lesson Plan

Legal Backgrounder

Materials and Resources

Rate this Curriculum

Last Reviewed

Produced by JES

LAW LESSONS

Canada’s Correctional System and Principles of Rehabilitation, Punishment, and Restorative Justice

Topic

Big Idea

Essential Question

Learning Standards Content

Curricular Competencies

Core Competencies

Communication

Thinking

Personal and Social

First People's Principles of Learning

Introduction

Pre-Assessment

Interactive Learning Activities

Post Assessment

Extension Activities

Additional References

Produced by

Funded by

Produced by

Funded by

Territorial Acknowledgement

Learning Standards
Content