6 Things to know about parole conditions
- Kate Mitchell
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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 impose conditions.
- Some conditions are mandatory for every offender released on parole. These standard conditions include reporting to a parole supervisor, remaining in Canada, obeying the law and keeping the peace, not owning a weapon, etc.
- Special conditions can also be imposed if they are “reasonable and necessary” to protect society and facilitate the offender’s reintegration. This could include a condition to avoid associating people involved in criminal activity, provide financial disclosure, not consume drugs and/or alcohol, etc.
- Correctional Service Canada may recommend special conditions, but it’s up to the Board to decide which special conditions to impose. The Board may impose the same conditions recommended by the parole officer, decline to impose those conditions, or impose conditions that weren’t recommended.
- Conditions are imposed at the end of the parole hearing. However, parole supervisors can impose local instructions after offenders are in the community that interpret/operationalize the conditions imposed by the Board.
- Offenders can apply to have a special condition varied or removed, or to be relieved from a standard condition. The Board is only required to consider such an application once every six months.
- Offenders on parole can request permission to travel outside of the country. If the request is granted, a limited validity passport is issued to allow for temporary travel.