Borys Law takes habeas corpus test case to Court of Appeal
- Simon Borys
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In 2020, Simon Borys and Kate Mitchell of Borys Law–a boutique law firm in Kingston, Ontario that focuses on parole and correctional law–launched a test case, on behalf of a number of inmates serving life or indeterminate sentences, in coordination…
SCC strikes down law which authorized life without parole for those convicted of multiple murders
- Simon Borys
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Simon Borys was recently interviewed for an article in The Lawyers Daily about R v Bissonnette, the recent case from the Supreme Court that dealt with the constitutionality of stacked life sentences. Simon intervened in the case on behalf of…
‘Crisis’ in federal correctional institutions due to parole programing backlog
- Simon Borys
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Simon Borys was recently interviewed for an article in The Lawyers Daily about the crisis in federal correctional institutions due to the programming backlog Simon is quoted in the article as saying: “This has been a problem for almost all…
COVID-19 vaccines in prison and informed consent
- Kate Mitchell
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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,…
What case preparation is done prior to a provincial parole hearing?
- Kate Mitchell
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Provincial prisoners (those serving two years or less) are eligible for parole after serving one-third of their sentences. If a prisoner is serving 6 months or longer, a parole hearing is automatically scheduled prior to their prisoner’s parole eligibility date….
Does provincial parole by exception exist?
- Kate Mitchell
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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…
9 Conditions federal prisoners on parole and statutory release must abide by
- Kate Mitchell
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Prisoners released on parole or statutory release have to abide by certain conditions. Some conditions are imposed at the discretion of the Parole Board of Canada, but others are standard conditions imposed on all prisoners on parole and statutory release….
5 Things to know about prison and jail libraries
- Kate Mitchell
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Libraries can be an important way for prisoners to access legal and non-legal reading materials. Below are some things to know: Not all provincial jails have libraries. In provincial jails where there is a library, prisoners generally get weekly access…
3 Things to know about incarceration for not paying family support orders
- Kate Mitchell
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Most prisoners in provincial jail have been charged with or convicted of a criminal offence, but individuals can also be imprisoned for failing to pay child and/or spousal support arrears. Imprisonment can be different for individuals who have not paid arrears, opposed…
5 Things to know about mail in provincial jail
- Kate Mitchell
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Mail can be an important way for provincial prisoners to maintain contact with their loved ones. Below are some things to know about mail in the provincial system: Prisoners receive a limited amount of free supplies to send letters. On admission,…