1

THE MINISTRY OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL

Office of the Correctional Investigator

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Solicitor General

Department

NationalParoleBoard

Canadian Security Intelligence Service

RCMPExternalReviewCommittee

RCMP Public ComplaintsCommission

Correctional Services ofCanada

2

BUILDING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE

ORGANIZED CRIME

PUBLIC SAFETY

CITIZENENGAGEMENT

MINISTRY PRIORITIES

EFFECTIVE CORRECTIONS

3

EFFECTIVE CORRECTIONS

Prison is the right place--the only place--

for some offenders,but it is also the wrong place

for others.

4

EFFECTIVE CORRECTIONS MEANS:

• distinguishing between offenders who need to be separated from society and those who can be safely and better managed in the community.

• preparing offenders for release into the community and assisting them in their reintegration into society.

• providing the programs and support that offenders need to get their life back on track -- whether within the penitentiary or under supervision in the community.

5

CANADA’S CRIME RATE2003

Steady decline since early 90s

500

1500

2500

3500

4500

5500

6500

7500

8500

9500

10500

91 92 93 94 95 96 97 3

Rate per 100,000 Population

Total Criminal Code Offences

Property Offences

Other Criminal Code Offences

Violent Offences

6

NUMBER OF INMATES PER 100,0002002

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Ca

na

da

Ne

w Z

ea

lan

d

Sp

ain

Un

ited

Kin

gd

om

Fra

nc

e

Au

stra

lia

Ita

ly

Ge

rma

ny

De

nm

ark

Sw

ed

en

Fin

lan

d

No

rwa

y

United States 702

At 116 per 100,000, Canada’s incarceration rate is higher than most Western democracies

Nu

mbe

r O

f I

nm

ates

133 127 122

9989 89 87 81

66 66 59 56

7

AVERAGE ANNUAL COST OF KEEPING A FEDERAL OFFENDER

IN CUSTODY AND IN THE COMMUNITY 2003

Penitentiary Men = $80 965

Women= $169,399

Community Correctional

Centre (Halfway House) = $20,478

Parole = $12,000

8

MALE/FEMALE OFFENDERSThe 2004 ratio

Men 95%

Women5%

FEDERAL SYSTEM

9

CHARACTERISTICS OF THEAVERAGE OFFENDER

• 20 - 34 years old• Caucasian• single• first time serving federal sentence• served time in a provincial institution• sentence is 3 - 6 years• poor job history and education• history of alcohol and drug abuse

10

ABORIGINAL OVER-REPRESENTATION

of Canada’s population accounts for

of all incarcerated federal offenders

2 %

16 %

11

CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS

• Substance Abuse Treatment

• Living Skills

• Family Violence Programs

• Education

• Employment and Work Programs

• Treatment for Sex Offenders

12

Offenders come from the community and almost all will return there, so the

best long-term public protection is their gradual release under

appropriate control and supervision.

CONDITIONAL RELEASE

13

SERVING A FEDERAL SENTENCE

ELIGIBILITY FORUNESCORTEDTEMPORARYABSENCE

(1/6th of sentence or three years, which ever is shorter; CSC or NPB decision)

ELIGIBILITY FOR DAY PAROLE (Accelerated Review Process)

(For low-risk offenders, 1/6th of sentence; NPB decision)

ELIGIBILITY FOR DAY PAROLE

(six months prior to 1/3rd of sentence; NPB decision)

STATUTORY RELEASE

(2/3rd of sentence; detention possible for some offenders)

END OF SENTENCE

(full release once entire sentence has been served)

THE COMMUNITY

ELIGIBILITY FOR FULL PAROLE

(1/3rd to 1/2 of sentence; NPB decision)

SENTENCE BEGINS

14

TYPES OF CONDITIONAL RELEASE

• Temporary Absence -- granted for medical, administrative, community service, family contact and personal development reasons. (Escorted - Unescorted)

• Work Release -- to do paid or voluntary work in the community under supervision.

• Day Parole -- eligible six months before full parole. Inmate required to return to institution or halfway house each night.

• Full Parole -- normally eligible after serving 1/3 of sentence or 7 years (whichever is less).

• Statutory Release -- most offenders released by law after serving 2/3 of sentence. Does not apply to offenders serving life or indeterminate sentences.

15

SUCCESS RATES FOR PAROLED INMATES

• 90 per cent of federal inmates complete their parole without committing a new crime.Day Parole = 80%Full Parole (regular) = 70%

Statutory Release = 59%

• The success rate for escorted and unescorted temporary absences is 99 per cent.

16

Many non-violent, low-risk offenders can be dealt with more

effectively in the community.

17

OPTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY

• Probation and Parole

• Halfway Houses

• Community Service

• Restitution to the Victim

• Mediation• Restorative Justice

(i.e., sentencing circles, family group conferencing)