1 THE MINISTRY OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL Office of the Correctional Investigator Royal Canadian Mounted Police Solicitor General Department National Parole Board Canadian Security Intelligence Service RCMP External Review Committee RCMP Public Complaints Commission Correctional Services of Canada

2 BUILDING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE ORGANIZED CRIME PUBLIC SAFETY CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT 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 RATE 2003 Steady decline since early 90s Rate per 100,000 Population Total Criminal Code Offences Property Offences Other Criminal Code Offences Violent Offences

6 NUMBER OF INMATES PER 100, At 116 per 100,000, Canada’s incarceration rate is higher than most Western democracies Number Of Inmates

7 AVERAGE ANNUAL COST OF KEEPING A FEDERAL OFFENDER IN CUSTODY AND IN THE COMMUNITY 2003 PenitentiaryMen= $ Women= $169,399 Community Correctional Centre (Halfway House) = $20,478 Parole= $12,000

8 MALE/FEMALE OFFENDERS The 2004 ratio FEDERAL SYSTEM

9 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AVERAGE OFFENDER years old Caucasian single first time serving federal sentence served time in a provincial institution sentence is 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 FOR UNESCORTED TEMPORARY ABSENCE (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)