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Adult custody

Last updated on July 24, 2026

BC Corrections’ Adult Custody Division operates 10 correctional centres throughout the province. The centres provide safe and secure custody for people awaiting trial or serving a provincial custodial sentence of less than two years.

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Programs and support

Security levels vary by correctional centre. Each centre offers programs, including educational and vocational training opportunities, that:

  • Improve the likelihood of success after release
  • Address factors that contribute to criminal behaviour

Learn more about BC Corrections behavioural programs.

Correctional employees also collaborate with community partners to create programs that provide people with opportunities to learn skills and give back to local communities.

We are continuously improving how we support people in custody. We use innovative approaches and evidence-based practices that respond to people’s unique needs and help prepare them to return to their communities.

Correctional officers and supervisors

Most Adult Custody Division employees are correctional officers and supervisors. They support people throughout their time in custody.

Staff use respectful communication and their leadership skills to:

  • Maintain a safe environment
  • Model positive thinking and behaviour

Correctional officer training

Training for correctional officers includes:

  • Effective communication
  • Professional ethics and standards
  • Indigenous cultural awareness
  • Trauma-informed practices
  • Mental health needs and strategies
  • Case management
  • Conflict resolution
  • Crisis intervention
  • Learning about the criminal justice system
  • Administrative fairness

Other people who work in correctional centres

Correctional centre teams also include:

  • Instructors, who deliver training and education to people in custody
  • Indigenous cultural liaisons and Elders, who provide culturally informed supports and counselling
  • Chaplains, who offer spiritual support to people in custody and staff
  • Financial and administrative staff, who provide organizational support
  • Community partners, who facilitate unique programming, integration services, or both
  • Provincial Health Services Authority medical professionals, who provide physical health, mental health and addiction services