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…
What programs are available for federal prisoners?
- March 25, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Prisoners in federal prisons may be able to take both core and voluntary programs. Core programs are those implemented by Correctional Service Canada (“CSC”) that the prisoner’s Parole Officer recommends the prisoner to take. These programs are meant to help prisoners address their…
How does canteen work in provincial jails?
- March 18, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Prisoners in provincial jails in Ontario can purchase items from their institution’s canteen. Items must be purchased using money held in the prisoner’s trust account. This account consists of the money the prisoner had in their possession on their admission…
When can CSC search cells?
- March 12, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Correctional Service Canada staff members are entitled to search cells and their contents in certain circumstances. However, CSC staff members are only supposed to search cells to the extent reasonably required for security purposes. If a staff member believes on…
Can prisoners lose their earned remission?
- March 5, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Earned remission allows provincial prisoners to be released prior to their warrant expiry date. Prisoners can be credited with 15 days of remission for each month served, which they can earn by obeying prison rules and conditions governing temporary absences,…
How long does it take to process a temporary absence permit application?
- February 26, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
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….
5 Things to know about statutory release residency conditions
- February 12, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
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…
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…
Can decisions of the Ontario Parole Board be appealed?
- January 16, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
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…
Are disciplinary charges different than criminal charges?
- October 16, 2020
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Disciplinary/institutional charges are different than criminal charges. Prisoners who commit a criminal act can be charged under the Criminal Code, and the matter would be tried in a court. Prisoners can also receive disciplinary charges, which are administrative proceedings not…