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 to lock it up. Some institutions have lockers—bring a quarter to use one. A correctional officer may swab your clothing or accessories, which is run through an IONSCAN device to...
Ultimately, the Parole Board of Canada decides whether federal inmates get parole, but others provide recommendations to help the Board. These include: Community Assessment Team (CAT). This typically consists of individuals like parole officers, police officers, community representatives, halfway house representatives, and/or mental health professionals. Case Management Team (CMT). This typically consists of a parole officer, Correctional...
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 visits are for up to 72 hours every 2 months. Who is eligible? Offenders are eligible unless they are: at risk for family violence, participating in unescorted temporary absences for family contact purposes,...
Prepare. The Board has access to offenders’ correctional documents and will base their questions around the information contained in those documents. Reviewing documents beforehand can help avoid surprises at a parole hearing. Be open, honest, and transparent. Attempting to deceive the Board can severely affect an inmate’s chances of being granted parole. Ask for clarification, if needed. Sometimes it is hard to know what a...
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 with, assault or threaten to assault another person” under paragraph 40(h) of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, SC 1992, c 20. The appellant filed a motion for judicial review, and the decision was upheld by the Federal Court....
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 as minimum or medium security, as well as for dangerous offenders initially classified as minimum security. These decisions are based on recommendations...
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 lawyer, and below are a few things to remember: Visits need to be booked in advance, and it usually takes a few days to a couple of weeks to arrange a visit through CSC. Different institutions have different rules about when lawyers can visit, how long...
Inmates are generally eligible for parole after serving 1/3 or 7 years of their sentence (whichever is less). Parole eligibility for those serving life sentences is decided at sentencing. In addition to parole, inmates may be eligible for other types of release. Inmates are eligible for these different types of release at different points in their sentences. Federal inmates Escorted temporary absences (“ETAs”)
Inmates can apply at any time....
On May 10, 2019, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness) v. Chhina. The majority upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal of Alberta, which found that immigration detainees can bring habeas corpus applications to challenge their detention. The fact that a review procedure exists under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act does not bar those in immigration detention from...
In Wood v Canada (Attorney General), 2019 ONSC 2697, Justice Tranmer granted an application for habeas corpus brought by an inmate involuntarily transferred from Joyceville Institution minimum security to Joyceville Institution medium security. The applicant's roommate alleged that he was threatened and bullied by the applicant. An unspecified number of members of the applicant's house also confirmed that the applicant had threatened his...
