8 Things to know about accessing money in prison
- July 1, 2019
- Kate Mitchell
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Food and accommodations cost money. After the intake assessment, offenders typically have to contribute part of their work pay (22%) and part of their other sources of income (normally 30%). There is also an 8% deduction for maintaining the phone…
Updates to CSC’s administrative segregation directive
- June 16, 2019
- Kate Mitchell
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Following a constitutional challenge to the administrative segregation scheme (currently under reserve at the British Columbia Court of Appeal), the Correctional Service of Canada amended its directive on administrative segregation. Below is a summary of the main changes: Elder visits….
What can I expect during a prison visit?
- June 4, 2019
- 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…
6 Things to know about private family visits (PFVs)
- May 26, 2019
- 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…
Federal Court of Appeal calls out deficient prison disciplinary court reasons
- May 21, 2019
- 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?
- May 20, 2019
- 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
- May 15, 2019
- 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…
Superior Court grants costs to suspended offender held past new statutory release date
- May 4, 2019
- Kate Mitchell
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In an endorsement dated May 3rd, 2018, a judge of the Superior Court of Justice granted costs to the applicant in Dupuis v Attorney General of Canada, a habeas corpus application. The applicant was released on parole, but it was…
Federal Court orders transfer of transgender inmate
- April 27, 2019
- Kate Mitchell
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Overview In Boulachanis v Canada (Attorney General), 2019 FC 456, Grammond J ordered the Correctional Service of Canada to transfer a transgender inmate. The inmate was being held at Donnacona Institution, and CSC had denied her request to be transferred…
Pre-sentence reports and correctional decision-making
- April 25, 2019
- Kate Mitchell
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Pre-sentence reports can have consequences well beyond sentencing, especially for offenders serving custodial sentences. It’s important to be aware of the correctional law implications and address any issues with PSRs as early as possible. What is a pre-sentence report? Pre-sentence…