How long does it take to process a temporary absence permit application?
- February 26, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Prisoners in provincial correctional facilities in Ontario are eligible to apply for temporary absence permits. These allow prisoners to be released into the community for some period of time, which could be anywhere from several hours up to 60 days….
Can decisions of the Ontario Parole Board be appealed?
- January 16, 2021
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
The Ontario Parole Board makes decisions about parole and (in some cases) temporary absences for prisoners serving sentences of less than 2 years. Prisoners who disagree with a decision of the Board can write to the Chair of the Board…
What can a prisoner do if denied parole?
- August 15, 2020
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
In the provincial and federal correctional systems, prisoners can appeal if they are denied parole. The appeal needs to be sent to the Parole Board of Canada’s Appeal Division (for federal prisoners) or to the Chair of the Ontario Parole…
Are victims involved in parole hearings?
- August 8, 2020
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Victims have the option to participate in hearings before the Ontario Parole Board and the Parole Board of Canada. Note that victim is a broad category that refers to any individual who has suffered physical or emotional harm, property damage…
What happens when prisoners breach their parole conditions?
- August 1, 2020
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Prisoners who are granted parole by the Parole Board of Canada (i.e. prisoners serving sentence of 2 years or more) or the Ontario Parole Board (i.e prisoners serving sentences of less than 2 years) must abide by any conditions imposed…
Is COVID-19 relevant to parole decision-making?
- June 7, 2020
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Since the pandemic began, we’ve been making the argument that COVID-19 is relevant to parole decision-making. Recent case law has confirmed that the Parole Board of Canada and provincial parole boards are expected to consider the impacts of COVID-19. According…
Ontario Court of Appeal confirms parole decisions must consider COVID-19
- May 9, 2020
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
In R v Morgan, 2020 ONCA 279, the Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed a sentence appeal brought during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Court clarified that COVID-19 is relevant to parole decision-making, at paragraph 12: “That result does not mean…
How does the COVID-19 outbreak affect parole hearings?
- March 20, 2020
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Inmates can continue to submit applications for parole, temporary absences, etc., and they are entitled to have a hearing or review in the timeline set out in the relevant statute or regulation. COVID-19 does not impact inmates’ eligibility for parole…
What is a parole sponsor?
- January 11, 2020
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
A provincial inmate applying for parole will likely be asked by the Institutional Liaison Officer (“ILO”) and/or the Ontario Parole Board about who the inmate’s sponsor is. A sponsor is the person the inmate will be living with, if granted…
Do inmates need to apply for parole?
- January 5, 2020
- Kate Mitchell
- No comments
Inmates are automatically considered for parole or entitled to a hearing in some cases, but in other cases they need to apply. Regardless, inmates should speak with their Parole Officer or Institutional Liaison Officer about their parole eligibility and ensure…