Parole: Contributing to Public Safety (Continued)

11. In the Community

Q.  Who supervises offenders when they are on conditional release?

A.  The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is responsible for supervising offenders on conditional release from a penitentiary as well as provincial offenders granted parole by the Board. In addition, CSC is responsible for supervising offenders who have Long Term Supervision Orders.

Q.  What is community supervision?

A.  Community supervision involves monitoring and helping the offender to reintegrate into society. The parole supervisor reviews the offender's file and sets a schedule to meet with the offender, gives instructions, may contact community resources and the police, and may visit the offender's family, friends, employer, or others.

If offenders do not abide by their conditions of release, they may be returned to prison.

Q.  What are the standard conditions of release?

A.  Any offender released on parole or statutory release must abide by the following conditions:

• on release, travel directly to the offender's place of residence, as set out in the release certificate, and report to the parole supervisor immediately and thereafter as instructed by the parole supervisor;
• remain at all times in Canada, within territorial boundaries prescribed by the parole supervisor;
• obey the law and keep the peace;
• inform the parole supervisor immediately if arrested or questioned by the police;
• always carry the release certificate and the identity card provided by the releasing authority and produce them on request for identification to any peace or parole officer;
• report to the police if and as instructed by the parole supervisor;
• advise the parole supervisor of the offender's address of residence on release and thereafter report immediately any change in address of residence, any change in occupation, including employment, vocational or educational training, and volunteer work,
• any change in the family, domestic, or financial situation, and any change that may reasonably be expected to affect the offender's ability to comply with the conditions of parole or statutory release;
• not to own, possess, or have the control of any weapon, as defined in the Criminal Code, except as authorized by the parole supervisor; and,
• for an offender released on day parole, return to the penitentiary at the date and time on the release certificate.

Those released on a temporary absence must also return to the penitentiary from which the offender was released at the date and time provided for in the absence permit.

Q.  Can other conditions be added?

A.  In addition to the standard conditions of release, the National Parole Board may impose other special conditions that it sees as necessary in managing the offender's risk, such as abstain from alcohol, geographic restrictions, etc. These special conditions are monitored and enforced during the offender's supervision by the offender's parole officer.

Q.  What is a pardon under the Criminal Records Act??

A.  The Criminal Records Act (CRA) was adopted by Parliament to help people who were once convicted of a criminal offence, have completed their sentence and demonstrated that they are responsible citizens. The National Parole Board has the authority to grant, deny or revoke a pardon for convictions under federal acts or statutes.

If a pardon is in force, any federal agency or department that has records of convictions must keep those records separate. They may not disclose the information in the record without prior approval from the Public Safety Minister.

A pardon ceases to exist automatically if an offender is later convicted of an indictable offence. The Board may revoke a pardon if an offender receives a summary conviction, if they are no longer of good conduct, or if it finds that a deceptive statement was made, or relevant information was concealed at the time of the application.

A pardon does not guarantee a person entry or visa privileges to another country. Before they go, individuals should contact the authorities of any country they wish to visit to find out what they need to do to enter that country.

U.S. and other non-Canadian citizens are not eligible for a pardon unless they were convicted of a crime in Canada.

Eligible individuals can apply for a pardon by completing a Pardon Application and submitting it to the National Parole Board.

Q.   What is the Royal Prerogative of Mercy?

A.  Clemency through the Royal Prerogative of Mercy is an exceptional remedy which may be granted where there exist circumstances of extreme hardship or inequity beyond that intended by the Courts, or out of proportion to the nature and the seriousness of the offence.

The National Parole Board conducts the investigations into the merits of the applications and makes a recommendation to the Public Safety Minister. Where the Minister supports the grant of clemency, he submits his recommendation to the Governor-in-Council or, in some cases, to the Governor General of Canada who will make the final decision.

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