The provincial jail population is large and diverse, and diet is one of the areas where the Ministry tries to accommodate in some cases. Below are a few things to know about special diets: Special diets are offered for those with particular needs. Prisoners can receive special diets if it is needed due to medical treatment/a medical condition (e.g. pregnancy, diabetes, etc.), religious requirements (e.g. Halal, Kosher, etc.), or Lifestyle...
Federal prisoners can generally receive daily payments and allowances while incarcerated. There are four daily payment levels for prisoners who participate in program assignments (school, work, programming, etc.): Payment level A: $6.90 Payment level B: $6.35 Payment level C: $5.80 Payment level D: $5.25 Prisoners can earn higher payment levels by showing good institutional behaviour, consistently attending work or required programs, engaging in...
Provincial prisoners typically need to serve one-third of their sentence before they are eligible for parole. However, parole can be granted "at any time where, in the opinion of the Board, compelling or exceptional circumstances exist that warrant the inmate’s parole". Unfortunately, there is no clear guidance in the Ministry of Correctional Services Act or its regulations as to what constitutions "compelling or exceptional circumstances"....
In federal prisons, treatment is not to be provided or continued unless the prisoner gives informed consent. Prisoners, like all citizens, generally have the right to refuse treatment or withdraw from treatment at any time. To qualify as informed consent, the prisoner has to be advised of and have the capacity to understand: (a) the likelihood and degree of improvement, remission, control or cure as a result of the treatment; ...
Each federal prisoner receives a security classification at intake, which is determined in the months after sentencing while the prisoner is in the assessment phase. A prisoner is rated as either minimum, medium, or maximum security. Once a prisoner has been assessed and placed in their home institution, this security classification can eventually be reassessed. A Security Classification Review must be completed at least once every two years...
In the federal correctional system, each prisoner receives a security classification (minimum, medium, or maximum). Legislation and regulations set out how security classifications are assigned, and the exact criteria is set out in the Commissioner's Directives. The criteria that are used to classify provincial prisoners are far less clear. In the provincial correctional system, a prisoner may be placed in a maximum or medium security custody...
The property that a prisoner is allowed to have in their cell depends on the prisoner's gender and security level. The National Lists of Personal Property for Men/Women Inmates sets out which items prisoners are allowed to have in their cells, which are reviewed annually. If a prisoner has an authorized item that is later taken off the list, then the prisoner may be allowed to keep the item (but will likely be prevented from replacing it)....
Provincial prisoners who are granted parole by the Ontario Parole Board are generally not released immediately. A parole hearing may be held prior to the prisoner's parole eligibility date. If the prisoner is granted parole, then the Ontario Parole Board will generally order that the prisoner be released on parole at some point following their parole eligibility date. Even if a hearing is held after the prisoner's parole eligibility date, the...
The Ontario Parole Board is required to consider all relevant information that is reliable and persuasive. The Board can receive information from a range of sources, including correctional staff, the prisoner seeking parole (including the prisoner's friends and family), victims, etc. Before a parole or temporary absence hearing, correctional staff will compile and submit various documents to the Board. The Board is provided with general...
Prisoners in provincial correctional facilities may receive a demand to complete substance testing (to test for evidence of alcohol or other substances). However, demands can only be made in certain circumstances: If the director or superintendent of the provincial correctional facility has authorized the demand and there are reasonable grounds to suspect i) the prisoner has consumed or used alcohol or another substance, and ii) a test is...
