Find out about programming for offenders

Our goal is to engage and support offenders to:

  • change their behaviour; and
  • become law-abiding citizens.

Find out about our approach

Our programming:

  • reduces criminal behaviour;
  • supports accountability;
  • supports motivation; and
  • supports reconnection with culture and community.

We offer targeted services to:

  • medium and high-risk offenders; and
  • medium and high-needs offenders.

Offenders can make productive use of their time through work and programming.

Staff supervision, role-modelling and leadership are based on:

  • respectful and effective direction;
  • communication;
  • intervention; and
  • support.

Our programming involves Elders and is a reflection of First Nations':

  • cultures;
  • practices; and
  • spirituality.

Our programs are designed for male and female offenders.

Programming and reintegration involves:

  • community; and
  • community-based resources

Evidence-based programming to address criminal behaviour

Changing offending behaviour or cognitive skills program

This program targets:

  • antisocial thoughts; and
  • cognitive skills deficits.

This program uses a behavioural approach including:

  • modelling;
  • rehearsing; and
  • rewarding. 

This program is based on interactive journaling. It's a structured and experiential writing process. This process leads people towards positive life change.

The list of journals provided to inmates includes:

  • Peer Relationship;
  • Self-Control;
  • Responsible Thinking;
  • Substance Abuse;
  • Social Values;
  • Family Ties Skills; and
  • Successful Living.

Living without violence program

This program helps offenders:

  • identify precursors and patterns that lead to violent behaviour;
  • identify triggers and high-risk situations;
  • design a self-management plan; and
  • examine the impact of violence on themselves and others.

Substance-abuse management program

This program addresses the following aspects of addiction:

  • spiritual;
  • social;
  • biological; and
  • psychological.

Offenders can develop practical strategies. Those can reduce the consequences of substance abuse.

Sexual offenders treatment and maintenance programs

These national programs manage the risk of re-offending. The treatment component is provided by:

  • psychologists; and
  • counsellors.

The maintenance portion is provided by:

  • case managers;
  • psychologists and counsellors; and
  • probation officers.

Emotions management for women program

This program promotes:

  • self-awareness;
  • motivation;
  • empathy; and
  • social skills. 

It addresses:

  • cognitive distortions;
  • thinking errors; and
  • deals with anger management.

Life and job readiness programs

Yukon College has a campus at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre. Yukon College delivers:

  • basic upgrading courses;
  • industrial training certificates; and
  • culture-based courses.

Among those are:

  • level-1 First Aid;
  • industry safety;
  • Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System;
  • résumé writing;
  • Food Safe;
  • financial management;
  • Alcoholics Anonymous; and
  • Changing Paths: Life Skills (for female offenders).

The Justice Wellness Centre provides:

  • addictions counselling;
  • employment, education and skills development;
  • talking circles; and
  • recreational programs and a leisure area for clients.

Work programs

These programs provide inmates with opportunities to:

  • engage in positive and constructive activities; and
  • gain practical job skills.

This can help inmates reintegrate into the community. Inmates who work earn a wage of $1.50 to $6.50 per day.

  • Sentenced inmates are required to work.
  • Remanded inmates can volunteer for work programs.

Outside work crew

Low-risk inmates have worked on projects such as:

  • Habitat for Humanity;
  • renovations to Angel’s Nest Youth Shelter;
  • Mae Bachur Animal Shelter;
  • building sand and toy boxes for the Kwanlin Dün daycare;
  • donation boxes for the food bank;
  • trail markers for the Yukon Quest sled dog race;
  • a log house in Carcross;
  • information kiosks for Parks Canada; and
  • a garden program for male and female inmates:
    • vegetable donations are provided to the Whitehorse Food Bank and the Golden Age Society.

Inside work crew

Inside work crew work in the:

  • kitchen;
  • laundry;
  • admissions area; and
  • as part of a cleaning crew.

First Nations programs and services

Corrections works with Yukon First Nations to deliver correctional services and programs, incorporating Indigenous cultural heritage. 

Chaplaincy

Chaplaincy provides spiritual support through:

  • multi-faith services; and
  • counselling.

Medical care

The correctional centre has a well-equipped medical unit with 5 full-time nurses and a medical manager.

  • Nursing care is available 16 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • A physician attends the centre weekly to see inmates referred by nursing staff.
  • A public health nurse attends once a week to see self-referred clients.
  • On-site emergency dental services are available.
  • A local optometry practice provides optical care to inmates as needed.

Mental health

A psychologist is on contract for:

  • psychological assessments;
  • cognitive functioning assessments;
  • mental health assessments;
  • grief counselling; and
  • consultations with case managers and probation officers.

A psychiatrist visits the correctional centre on a weekly basis. Referrals are made through the correctional centre’s physician.