Young persons in pre-trial detention: open vs secure custody
- January 26, 2020
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Youth in custody are covered by a different framework than adults incarcerated in provincial and federal institutions. Unlike adults, youth in pre-trial detention can be detained in open custody or secure custody. Secure custody resembles a jail or prison (physical…
5 Things to know about delayed parole eligibility
- January 19, 2020
- Kate Mitchell
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In some cases, the court has the power to delay an offender’s parole eligibility until they have served half their sentence or 10 years (whichever is less). This can only be done for select offences that are prosecuted by indictment,…
When are federal inmates entitled to make representations?
- December 26, 2019
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
While Correctional Service Canada has the ultimate say over most decisions affecting inmates, inmates are often entitled to make representations. This means that inmates are statutorily entitled to present arguments to the decision-maker. Even if the decision-maker isn’t convinced by…
5 Things to know about access to legal services in prison
- December 7, 2019
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Federal inmates have the right to certain legal services, which are set out in section 97 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Regulations. This includes: The right to retain and instruct counsel. This applies when an inmate is arrested, placed…
How do federal inmates get to lower security prisons?
- November 24, 2019
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
There are three factors that Correctional Service Canada considers when deciding whether to classify an inmate as minimum, medium, or maximum security: Institutional adjustment: this refers to the inmate’s behaviour while incarcerated, and CSC will consider Violent incidents while in…
5 Things to know about Security Threat Groups
- November 18, 2019
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
What are they? Correctional Service Canada gives the STG label to inmates who are believed to be part of an offender group, gang, association, or organization with 3+ members. This includes street gangs, prison gangs, outlaw motorcycle gangs, traditional organized…
Can inmates attend funerals outside of prison?
- November 2, 2019
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Federal inmates may be permitted to attend a funeral outside of prison. Inmates need to apply for a temporary absence to do so, either an escorted temporary absence (ETA) or an unescorted temporary absence (UTA). On an ETA, inmates are…
6 Things to know about escorted temporary absences (ETAs)
- October 27, 2019
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Offenders serving sentences in federal institutions are eligible for “escorted temporary absences” (ETAs). What are ETAs? ETAs are one of three forms of temporary absence available to inmates (the others are unescorted temporary absences and work release). On ETAs, inmates…
What counts as contraband in prison?
- October 13, 2019
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
According to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, contraband includes: (a) an intoxicant, (b) a weapon or a component thereof, ammunition for a weapon, and anything that is designed to kill, injure or disable a person or that is altered…
6 Things to know about parole conditions
- October 23, 2019
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
If an offender is released on parole, conditions may be imposed on the offender’s release. The points below apply to those release by the Parole Board of Canada, but note that the Ontario Parole Board also has the power to…