What case preparation is done prior to a provincial parole hearing?
- March 21, 2022
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
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?
- August 16, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
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…
5 Things to know about prison and jail libraries
- February 22, 2022
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
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
- January 18, 2022
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
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
- December 22, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
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,…
4 Things to know about special diets in provincial jails
- October 21, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
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…
Parole support letters vs character reference letters
- May 18, 2022
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
It can be helpful for prisoners to provide support letters to the Parole Board of Canada or Ontario Parole Board, as the case may be. Support letters can be helpful because they give the Board insight into what the prisoner’s…
Do prisoners in provincial jails receive security classifications?
- July 2, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
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…
Are provincial prisoners released immediately when granted parole?
- June 18, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
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…
What information does the Ontario Parole Board consider?
- June 11, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
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,…