CIS ARE EMPOWERED TO INVESTIGATE INMATE COMPLAINTS ON THEIR OWN INITIATIVE OR BY REQUEST OF CANADA'S SOLICITOR GENERAL. PRISONS ARE OFTEN UNRESPONSIVE TO CI INQUIRIES, AND PRISON PERSONNEL OFTEN COVER FOR EACH OTHER TO RETAIN FINANCIAL SUPPORT. ALTHOUGH A 32 PERCENT DECREASE IN INMATE COMPLAINTS RESULTED MAINLY FROM POLICY CHANGES REQUIRING THAT INMATES EXHAUST ALL OTHER AVENUES OF COMPLAINT BEFORE APPLYING TO THE CI, PRISONS COMPLAIN THAT THE CI OFFICE IS INSENSITIVE TO THEM; CI PERSONNEL OFTEN DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME TO PROPERLY RESEARCH INMATE COMPLAINTS. THE MAJORITY OF COMPLAINTS RESULT FROM INMATE TRANSFERS TO MORE SECURE PRISONS. MANY REGIONAL PRISONS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO AUTHORIZE TRANSFERS WITHOUT ADEQUATE JUSTIFICATION. CONFUSION STILL EXISTS AMONG PRISON AUTHORITIES ABOUT PENITENTIARY SERVICE REGULATIONS. SPECIAL HANDLING UNITS RECENTLY ESTABLISHED TO HANDLE DANGEROUS INMATES RAISE CONTROVERSY, AS MANY INMATES ASSIGNED TO THEM OBJECT TO THE PROCEDURES INVOLVED. ALSO DISCUSSED ARE PAROLE, SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, DISCIPLINE, PROCESSING INMATE CLAIMS, AND MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE IMPLEMENTING BETTER PROGRAMS FOR INMATES IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AND BETTER ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICES FOR SEIZING AND HANDLING INMATE PROPERTY. APPENDIXES CONTAIN CI DIRECTIVES. FOOTNOTES AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED. --IN FRENCH AND ENGLISH. (PAP)