What can I expect during a prison visit?
- Kate Mitchell
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Every institution has slightly different procedures for prison visits, but the following points apply to many institutions: You’ll have to sign in at the entrance—make sure you have photo ID. If you have any unauthorized property, you’ll need…
Who decides if a federal inmate gets parole?
- Kate Mitchell
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Ultimately, the Parole Board of Canada decides whether federal inmates get parole, but others provide recommendations to help the Board. These include: Community Assessment Team (CAT). This typically consists of individuals like parole officers, police officers, community representatives, halfway house…
6 Things to know about private family visits (PFVs)
- Kate Mitchell
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What are private family visits (PFVs)? PFVs are visits that occur in a prison, but in separate areas inside the prison where inmates can privately visit with family members or those the inmate has a close personal relationship with. These…
7 Tips for a successful parole hearing
- Kate Mitchell
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Prepare. The Board has access to offenders’ correctional documents and will base their questions around the information contained in those documents. Reviewing documents beforehand can help avoid surprises at a parole hearing. Be open, honest, and transparent. Attempting to…
Federal Court of Appeal calls out deficient prison disciplinary court reasons
- Kate Mitchell
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Overview In Sharif v Canada (Attorney General), 2018 FCA 205, Stratas JA overturned the conviction of the appellant, who had been convicted by the Warkworth Institutional Disciplinary Court for “fight[ing] with, assault[ing] or threaten[ing] to assault another person” under paragraph 40(h)…
How are initial security classification decisions made?
- Kate Mitchell
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Generally, security classification decisions are made by the Institutional Head or District Director. However, there are some exceptions. For example, the Assistant Commissioner makes the initial classification decision for those serving life sentences for murder and terrorism who are classified…
5 Things to know about lawyer visits in prison
- Kate Mitchell
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Sometimes it can seem like it takes a long time for an inmate to see a lawyer or a visit may get cancelled last minute without the inmate knowing why. A lot goes into even a quick visit with a…
When are inmates eligible for parole?
- Kate Mitchell
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Inmates are generally eligible for parole after serving 1/3 or 7 years of their sentence (whichever is less). Parole eligibility for those serving life sentences is decided at sentencing. In addition to parole, inmates may be eligible for other types…
Supreme Court adopts submissions of Borys Law in landmark immigration detention case
- Kate Mitchell
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On May 10, 2019, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness) v. Chhina. The majority upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal of Alberta, which found that immigration detainees can bring…
Involuntary transfer successfully challenged over information reliability concerns
- Kate Mitchell
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In Wood v Canada (Attorney General), 2019 ONSC 2697, Justice Tranmer granted an application for habeas corpus brought by an inmate involuntarily transferred from Joyceville Institution minimum security to Joyceville Institution medium security. The applicant’s roommate alleged that he was…