Core Business Areas

The five core business areas described in this section contribute separate programs and services that work together to fulfill the ministry's public safety mandate.

Corrections

The Corrections Branch protects communities through appropriate supervision and case management of adult offenders and accused persons. The safe management and control of offenders is based on assessment of their risk to re-offend and need for rehabilitation. Through assessments, the branch determines suitable levels of supervision and programs to promote positive change in offender thinking and behaviour.

To function effectively and protect the public, the Corrections Branch works closely with the police, the courts, Crown counsel, victim services, Immigration Canada, the B.C. Board of Parole, Correctional Services of Canada, aboriginal justice organizations and community service agencies.

The branch is comprised of two divisions — Adult Custody, and Community Corrections and Corporate Programs.

Adult Custody Division

The Adult Custody Division is responsible for supervision and case management of individuals held for trial or sentenced to jail for less than two years. The division also supervises offenders awaiting transfer to federal prison, federally sentenced offenders transferred to provincial jurisdictions, and individuals detained under the federal Immigration Act. In addition to supervising adult offenders, the division provides a variety of work and core programs aimed at reducing the risk of re-offending and enabling successful reintegration into the community.

Community Corrections and Corporate Programs Division

This division is responsible for all individuals ordered to bail supervision, community sentences, and those paroled from a provincial correctional centre. The division also supervises individuals on peace bonds and those subject to alternative measures.²

Community Corrections provides a range of core programs for offenders to mitigate the likelihood of re-offending. The division manages contracted programs for aboriginal programs and relationship violence treatment. Strategic and service delivery planning, research, evaluation, management information and technology systems are also under the mandate of this division and collectively ensure that there is cohesive organization and leadership for the branch as a whole.

Policing and Community Safety

As of April 1, 2004, the Policing and Community Safety Branch will have four rather than six divisions: Police Services, Victim Services and Community Programs, Provincial Emergency Program, and B.C. Coroners Service.

As part of the ministry's commitment to safe homes and communities, Victim Services and Community Programs have been integrated to enable a more holistic response to crime — from prevention strategies through to supports for victims of crime — and to allow for greater administrative and program efficiencies. Strong partnerships have been established across disciplines to ensure coordinated and comprehensive services are available throughout the province.

Security Programs has been included as a section of Police Services as there are linkages regarding the continuum of public and private policing. Combining the programs will allow for more consolidated and coordinated program delivery and policy analysis.

Police Services Division

Police Services Division superintends law enforcement functions in British Columbia, oversees the private security industry and provides protective public safety programs by:

• ensuring adequate and effective levels of policing enforcement throughout British Columbia on behalf of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General;
• ensuring central oversight of all policing;
• developing and administering policing policy;
• administering the RCMP provincial police force contract, and overseeing the organization of all provincial and municipal RCMP forces;
• supporting the provincial police service and other police agencies, including the Organized Crime Agency of B.C. and the Police Academy at the Justice Institute of B.C.;
• collecting, monitoring, analyzing and reporting on provincial crime and police data;
• conducting inspections and audits for municipal police force services using provincial policing standards;
• licensing and regulating the security industry, including security guards, private investigators and other security industry personnel; and,
• maintaining the Protection Order Registry.

Victim Services and Community Programs Division

Victim Services and Community Programs Division supports victims of crime and their families and develops and delivers programs to help British Columbians build and maintain safe communities by:

• funding over 150 police-based and community-based victim service programs that provide information, assistance and support to victims of crime;
• funding a 24-hour, provincewide telephone service — VictimLINK 1-800-563-0808;
• enhancing high-risk victim safety by providing safety planning, including notification of offender release information;
• overseeing the Victims of Crime Act, which promotes a fair and accessible justice system for victims of crime;
• administering the Crime Victim Assistance Act and Program, which provides financial benefits and assistance to victims of crime;
• providing leadership, advice, training and expertise on victim issues;
• establishing and maintaining partnerships with organizations, communities and government to ensure coordinated and comprehensive services;
• working with community groups, schools, youth groups, businesses, service organizations, police and all levels of government to support activities that reduce crime, violence and victimization; and,
• placing special emphasis on effective programs for youth.

Provincial Emergency Program (PEP)

The Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) minimizes the loss of life and economic impact of disaster/emergency events such as floods, earthquakes, landslides and severe storms by:

• maintaining an integrated response and recovery immediate activation capability for all hazard emergencies and disasters;
• recruiting, training and maintaining a resource pool (TEAMS) of provincial staff experienced in management of emergency operations;
• providing leadership and subject matter expertise in assisting local governments, non-government agencies and families in preparing for and responding to an emergency or disaster;
• managing the provision of Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) for individuals and families, local governments and businesses; and,
• administering the Emergency Program Act, Regulations and the DFA Agreement and five public safety lifeline volunteer services.

B.C. Coroners Service

The Coroners Service is responsible for the investigation of all sudden and unexpected, unexplained or unattended deaths and makes recommendations to improve public safety and prevent death in similar circumstances.

Compliance and Consumer Services

The ministry's public safety mandate is supported by the Compliance and Consumer Services Branch through the Consumer Services Division, the Film Classification Office, the Residential Tenancy Office, the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles, and the Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement Division.

Consumer Services Division

The Consumer Services Division promotes fairness and understanding in the marketplace through a combination of consumer protection and industry regulation. This is accomplished through:

• developing and administering consumer protection legislation;
• regulating key industries or sectors to enhance consumer protection;
• participating with other enforcement agencies in combating consumer fraud and commercial crime;
• providing consumer/business mediation, information and education;
• administering consumer protection boards/funds, trusts and financial instruments; and,
• managing cost recovery and providing restitution to consumers to reduce costs to taxpayers.

Film Classification Office

The Film Classification Office safeguards public interests by regulating the public exhibition, rental and distribution of films, video games and videos in British Columbia. The office is responsible for:

• administering the Motion Picture Act and regulations;
• classifying films into age-appropriate ratings and providing advisories on film content to assist the public in making informed viewing choices;
• assessing adult videos for content that is prohibited under the Motion Picture Act or the Criminal Code of Canada;
• licensing film and video distributors, video retailers, and theatres;
• enforcing the Act and regulations and removing unapproved or prohibited adult videos from the marketplace and taking action to ensure the restricted sale of mature video games;
• assisting the police and Canada Customs in the review of seized adult videos and the prosecution of cases resulting from these investigations; and,
• educating the public on the film classification system through a comprehensive internet site and school outreach program.

Residential Tenancy Office

The Residential Tenancy Office encourages and actively promotes harmonious relationships by providing landlords and tenants with information and dispute resolution services, including a quasi-judicial arbitration process that is intended to be quick, inexpensive and accessible. The key functions of the office are:

• administering legislation that regulates relationships between residential property landlords and tenants;
• providing intervention, arbitration and arbitration review services to resolve landlord and tenant disputes; and,
• providing information services to landlords and tenants.

Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles

The Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles regulates drivers to help ensure the safe and responsible operation of motor vehicles in British Columbia. The office is responsible for:

• setting licensing policy and monitoring and regulating dangerous and unfit drivers;
• conducting appeals of administrative driving prohibitions and vehicle impoundments;
• conducting hearings and reviews of Insurance Corporation of British Columbia decisions respecting driver licence sanctions, driver training school and driver trainer licences; and,
• leading and supporting government traffic safety initiatives.

Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement Division

The Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement Division contributes to the public safety network by:

• enforcing laws and regulations related to commercial vehicle safety and vehicle equipment standards in British Columbia, including provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act, Commercial Transport Act, Transport of Dangerous Goods Act, Motor Carrier Act, and Motor Fuel Tax Act;
• maintaining and promoting road safety through the implementation and management of the National Safety Code, Commercial Vehicle Inspection Program, Private Vehicle Inspection Program, Commercial Transport Program, Transport of Dangerous Goods Program and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance; and,
• participating on various national and international government road safety bodies to coordinate and harmonize commercial transport and vehicle equipment and safety standards.

Gaming Policy and Enforcement

The Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch contributes to the ministry's public safety mandate by ensuring a comprehensive legal and policy framework, regulating gaming and horse racing in British Columbia, ensuring the integrity of people and equipment involved in the gaming industry, and investigating allegations of wrongdoing.

Policy, Legislation and Standards Division

The Policy, Legislation and Standards Division promotes responsible gambling practices by developing and maintaining a rigorous regulatory environment for gaming and horse racing that balances economic benefits with public safety. The division provides advice regarding legislation, policies and standards that govern gaming. The division also coordinates administrative review hearings as required and is responsible for delivering the Responsible Gambling Strategy, which includes the Problem Gambling Program.

Licensing and Proceeds Distribution Division

The Licensing and Proceeds Distribution Division issues gaming licences permitting eligible community organizations to hold fundraising events such as ticket raffles, independent bingo games, wheels of fortune and social occasion casinos. The division also allocates government gaming revenue to eligible community organizations through grants from the Direct Access and Bingo Hall Affiliation programs.

Racing Division

The Racing Division develops and implements policies to regulate horse racing in British Columbia to ensure its integrity, and monitors and enforces the Rules of Thoroughbred and Standardbred Racing. The division oversees all races taking place in the province, monitors the activities of track officials and other employees, ensures the safety and security of race track grounds, and investigates and adjudicates matters arising from race meetings. In addition, the division licenses participants in the horse racing industry.

Registration Division

The Registration Division ensures the integrity of organizations, employees and equipment in the gaming industry by conducting mandatory background checks to determine the suitability of potential employees and service providers, and approving and certifying all gaming equipment. The division also maintains a register of gaming service providers and gaming workers.

Audit and Compliance Division

The Audit and Compliance Division manages a comprehensive audit strategy for commercial gaming, including horse racing, to ensure compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations, policies and directives. The division conducts regular audits of gaming activity in the province, assesses compliance reviews conducted by the B.C. Lottery Corporation and reviews community organizations' use of funds received through gaming licences and the Direct Access and Bingo Hall Affiliation grant programs.

Investigation Division

This division investigates all complaints and allegations of criminal or regulatory wrong-doing related to gaming and horse racing in British Columbia, and is responsible for the province's illegal gaming strategy. This strategy includes a team of branch investigators and RCMP officers, who work with other law enforcement agencies on gaming-related investigations. All investigators in this division are special provincial constables.

Liquor Control and Licensing

The Liquor Control and Licensing Branch regulates the manufacture of liquor and the resale of liquor in licensed establishments in order to improve public safety by reducing liquor misuse.

Licensing and Local Government Liaison Division

The Licensing and Local Government Liaison Division is responsible for the analysis, approval and processing of licence applications for the manufacture, sale and service of liquor in the province. The division is responsible for all aspects of issuing, amending, transferring and renewing licences for licensed establishments, licensee retail stores, wineries and manufacturers. During the approval process, the division works closely with local government staff and elected officials to gather community input for licensing decisions. The division is also responsible for issuing permits to purchase and store grain alcohol, regulating the sale of medicinal and cooking alcohols, and reviewing requests for exemptions to Special Occasion Licences.

Compliance and Enforcement Division

The Compliance and Enforcement Division is responsible for inspecting, investigating and educating licensees to ensure they comply with the law, and taking enforcement action when voluntary compliance cannot be achieved. The division partners with police agencies and local government agencies to monitor compliance and target high-risk licensees.

Policy, Planning and Communications Division

This division leads the branch in strategic planning processes and in the development of legislative, regulatory and policy change. The division is also responsible for consulting with federal-provincial and stakeholder groups, including industry associations, police and local governments. In addition, the division is responsible for responding to media, legislative and public inquiries related to the mandate and activities of the branch.