SCC strikes down law which authorized life without parole for those convicted of multiple murders
- June 29, 2022
- Simon Borys
- No comments
Simon Borys was recently interviewed for an article in The Lawyers Daily about R v Bissonnette, the recent case from the Supreme Court that dealt with the constitutionality of stacked life sentences. Simon intervened in the case on behalf of…
‘Crisis’ in federal correctional institutions due to parole programing backlog
- June 29, 2022
- Simon Borys
- No comments
Simon Borys was recently interviewed for an article in The Lawyers Daily about the crisis in federal correctional institutions due to the programming backlog Simon is quoted in the article as saying: “This has been a problem for almost all…
5 Things to know about prison and jail libraries
- February 22, 2022
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Libraries can be an important way for prisoners to access legal and non-legal reading materials. Below are some things to know: Not all provincial jails have libraries. In provincial jails where there is a library, prisoners generally get weekly access…
Are parole hearings different for Dangerous Offenders?
- May 7, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Dangerous Offenders serving indeterminate sentences are eligible for parole 7 years from the time they were taken into custody. This does not mean that Dangerous Offenders will necessarily receive parole after 7 years. This only means that Dangerous Offenders are entitled…
5 Things to know about Parole Board of Canada hearings for non-English speakers
- April 16, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
The Parole Board of Canada offers certain accommodations for prisoners who do not speak English. The Parole Board of Canada can hold hearings in English or French. Prisoners should ensure that their Parole Officer is aware of their preference well…
Which prisoners are still eligible for Accelerated Parole Review?
- April 9, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Accelerated Parole Review (“APR”) allows earlier parole for non-violent first-time federal prisoners. Prisoners eligible for APR can be released on parole after serving 1/6 of their sentence or 6 months, whichever is longer. In 2011, APR was abolished. However, the Supreme Court of…
COVID-19 and Elder-assisted hearings
- February 19, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
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…
Can a suspended federal prisoner be held past their new statutory release date?
- January 29, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
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
- January 22, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
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…
How do parole appeals work?
- November 27, 2020
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Prisoners can appeal decisions of the Parole Board of Canada to the Appeal Division. In addition to appealing a denial of parole, prisoners can also appeal the conditions imposed on parole or statutory release. Prisoners need to submit their appeals…