Creation of Alberta Provincial Parole Board
Date: June 2, 2020
Classification: Unclassified
Branch / Agency: Parole Board of Canada
Issue:
On June 1st, the Government of Alberta tabled legislation to create a provincial parole board. Currently, all conditional release decisions in Alberta are made by the Parole Board of Canada.
Proposed Response:
- Under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, the Parole Board of Canada has exclusive authority to make conditional release decisions for offenders serving sentences of two years or more.
- The PBC also makes parole decisions for offenders serving sentences of less than two years in provinces and territories that do not have their own parole board. Currently, only Ontario and Québec have their own parole boards.
- Federal legislation allows for provinces and territories to create their own parole boards if they so choose.
- In 2019-2020, the Parole Board of Canada reviewed a total of 67 provincial cases for Alberta.
- Of the Alberta provincial offenders granted parole, 4 had their parole revoked, none of which were for violent offences.
- All Parole Board of Canada decisions and their reasons are accessible to all Canadians upon request through its Decision Registry.
- Parole decisions for offenders serving federal sentences of two years or more remain under PBC jurisdiction, even where a provincial parole board exists.
- The Board, over the past few years, has improved its diversity to better reflect that of the Canadian population: 59% are women, 9% are visible minority and 13% are Indigenous. 94% of Board members have a university degree, 71% have direct experience in the criminal justice field, and 36% have direct experience in corrections and conditional release.
Background:
The Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA) sets out the jurisdiction of the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) and provincial parole boards.
In provinces and territories where a parole board has not been established, the PBC makes parole decisions for offenders serving sentences of six months to two years less a day.
The Government of Canada is committed to maintaining a corrections and conditional release system that contributes to the safety and security of all Canadians.
Contacts:
Prepared by: Mark Prieur, Director, Public Affairs and Partnerships, 613-954-6547
Approved by: Martin J. vanGihoven, A/Executive Director General, [Redacted]
- Date modified: