Inmates on day parole are required to return to a penitentiary, community-based residential facility, provincial correctional facility, or other location each night or at another specified interval.
On November 15, 2018, the Parole Board of Canada updated the Decision-Making Policy Manual to allow inmates to apply for day parole to a private residence or private facility (nursing home, treatment center, etc.). Private residences classify as an “other location”.
To qualify, the residence needs to be the home of a family member or friend, who must be registered on the inmate’s contact list.
Inmates apply for day parole to a private residence the same way as they would for day parole to another location. Generally, this means an inmate will speak with his or her parole officers, who will request a community strategy.
When considering day parole applications to a private residence, Board Members will consider if the proposed release plan and community supervision strategies can adequately address the inmate’s risk and needs. The Board will also assess whether:
- the offender requires a period of transition from a CBRF [halfway house] into the community and would benefit from continued structure;
- the offender’s plan consists of a release to a small or remote community; and/or
- the unique needs and circumstances of Indigenous offenders, women offenders, aging offenders or other groups of offenders with specific requirement have been considered
Just because inmates can apply for day parole to a private residence does not mean that it is likely it will be granted. Significant work may need to be done to try to convince the Board to grant such a release, and focusing on day parole to a private residence is not the best strategy for all inmates.
Contact us today to learn more about the parole process and to get assistance with applying for parole.