Review of the RCMP's Public Complaint Records
Appendix A: Common Terminology
Adverse Finding
A finding typically found in an Interim Report, which states that the subject member(s)' conduct was improper in that it did not meet
RCMP professional standards and/or was in conflict with
RCMP policy.
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Allegation
Assertion of misconduct in the performance of any duty or function, by a member of the public, against any member or person employed or appointed under the
RCMP Act.
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Commission's Issues List
Consists of 46 categories, which describe the nature of the public complaint. The process of assigning issues raised in complaints is completed when the Commission receives completed complaint records through the Review of the Record Project.
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Commissioner's Notice
A letter issued by the
RCMP Commissioner that acknowledges receipt of the Commission's Interim Report, and includes a response to the Chair or the Vice-Chair's findings and recommendations made in that report.
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Complaint Disposition
RCMP-initiated settlement of a public complaint against a member.
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Completed Complaint Record
All
RCMP paperwork relating to a public complaint and a disposition of a complaint, if necessary.
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Final Report
A report that is issued by the Commission, and signed by either the Chair or the Vice-Chair, when the Commission is satisfied with the disposition of the complaint by the
RCMP and can find no fault with the action of the member(s).
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One of the four types of complaint dispositions issued by the
RCMP to the complainant(s) provided for under subsection 45.36(5) of the
RCMP Act stating the
RCMP's findings relating to its investigation into the public complaint.
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Final Report After
Commissioner's Notice
Written report that is issued by the Chair or the Vice-Chair in response to a Commissioner's Notice reasserting the Commission's position and detailing any concerns the Commission has with the
RCMP Commissioner's response to the Interim Report.
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Findings and Recommendations
Statement of conclusions made in reaction to the Commission's review of the public complaint disposition, and recommended courses of action by the
RCMP. Satisfied findings can be found in both Final and Interim Reports.
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Interim Report
A report that is issued by the Commission, and signed by either the Chair or the Vice-Chair, when the Commission is not satisfied with the disposition of the complaint by the
RCMP and/or finds fault with the action of the member(s). Typically, recommendations are made in Interim Reports in conjunction with the adverse findings.
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Notice of Direction
One of four types of complaint dispositions issued by the
RCMP, under subsection45.36(5) of the
RCMP Act, to the complainant(s) stating the
RCMP's decision not to investigate the complaint or to terminate the investigation into the complaint.
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Outstanding Disposition List
Accounting mechanism for all Commission-lodged public complaints currently under investigation by the
RCMP. It allows the Commission to track how quickly the
RCMP is responding to complaints, and in particular, identify complaints that are taking too long to investigate.
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Public Complaint Process
Series of procedures undertaken by the
RCMP and the Commission to address a public complaint against a member of the
RCMP. This can include, but is not limited to, complaint intake, investigation by the
RCMP, issuing of complaint dispositions and complaint reviews.
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RCMP Allegations Category
Part of the
RCMP classification system of complaints found on Form 4110, where each allegation made by a member of the public is assigned a specific mutually exclusive classification reflecting the nature of the allegation.
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A geographical term describing an area of provinces or territories where
RCMP has jurisdiction or is present. Regions are subdivided into divisions.
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Satisfied Finding
A finding typically found in a Final Report, stating that the Commission is satisfied with the conduct of the
RCMP member(s).
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Statutory Mandate
Legal authority provided for by legislation.
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Statutory Requirement
Legal obligation as provided for by legislation.