The principles and standards for health care to inmates were developed to clarify, for all Correctional Service of Canada staff dealing with the welfare of offenders, their responsibilities in delivering services to offenders. The purpose of these standards is to delineate for staff the precise expectations of the Correctional Service of Canada regarding the methods of delivering services which will provide offenders with an integrated, comprehensive, and nationally consistent health service. There are 10 program components: informed consent and right of refusal; involuntary treatment; confidentiality; consent to release information; information for case managers; exceptions to confidentiality; professional qualifications; offender employment; volunteers; and research. Three types of standards are listed for each program component: outcome criteria standards; process criteria standards; and structural criteria standards. Areas for further research are included.