How long does it take to process a temporary absence permit application?
- Kate Mitchell
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Prisoners in provincial correctional facilities in Ontario are eligible to apply for temporary absence permits. These allow prisoners to be released into the community for some period of time, which could be anywhere from several hours up to 60 days….
COVID-19 and Elder-assisted hearings
- Kate Mitchell
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Parole Board of Canada hearings have generally moved to WebEx, which has created some challenges. For example, Elder-assisted hearings may not be available for Indigenous prisoners. In Elder-assisted hearings, those involved traditionally sit in a circle and an Elder is…
5 Things to know about statutory release residency conditions
- Kate Mitchell
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The Parole Board of Canada has the power to impose conditions on federal prisoners on statutory release. Below are a few things to know about the Board’s powers with respect to residency conditions: The Board can impose a residency condition…
5 Things to know about Long-Term Supervision Orders
- Kate Mitchell
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In certain circumstances, individuals who are convicted of a criminal offence (or offences) can be subjected to a Long-Term Supervision Order (“LTSO”). An LTSO can be made if an individual has committed an offence and it would be appropriate to…
Can a suspended federal prisoner be held past their new statutory release date?
- Kate Mitchell
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When a federal prisoner who is on parole or statutory release is suspended, the prisoner is taken into custody and must await a post-suspension hearing. If revoked, the prisoner’s statutory release date is recalculated. The Corrections and Conditional Release Regulation (“CCRR“) only…
Parole Board of Canada hearings move to WebEx
- Kate Mitchell
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The Parole Board of Canada announced this week that Parole Board of Canada hearings are moving to WebEx. Prior to COVID-19, hearings occurred in-person, with Board Members, parole officers, lawyers, and observers generally attending in-person. Since the pandemic began, hearings…
Can decisions of the Ontario Parole Board be appealed?
- Kate Mitchell
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The Ontario Parole Board makes decisions about parole and (in some cases) temporary absences for prisoners serving sentences of less than 2 years. Prisoners who disagree with a decision of the Board can write to the Chair of the Board…
COVID-19: 5 Reasons why it’s important to vaccinate prisoners
- Kate Mitchell
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The federal government announced its plan to vaccinate 600 elderly and vulnerable federal prisoners. The Correctional Service of Canada has begun vaccinating prisoners, which is an important step to help control the spread of COVID-19, both in prisons and the…
COVID-19: How soon can suspended federal prisoners get a post-suspension hearing?
- Kate Mitchell
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If a federal prisoner on parole or statutory release is suspended, the prisoner will be taken into custody. If the suspension isn’t cancelled by Correctional Service Canada, then the prisoner will have a post-suspension hearing before the Parole Board of…
COVID-19: How to stay in touch with federal prisoners
- Kate Mitchell
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In response to outbreaks of COVID-19 in prisons, Correctional Service Canada has suspended in-person visits in many areas. That said, friends and family still have other ways of contacting prisoners: Mail. As a precaution, mail is generally being quarantined for…