ALBERTA ASSOCIATION OF POLICE GOVERNANCE

1. ALBERTA ASSOCIATION OF POLICE GOVERNANCE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PAROLE AND PROBATION IN ALBERTA

2. INTRODUCTION TO CSC • CSC is one of five agencies within the Department of Public Safety. Our partners include: • Royal Canadian Mounted Police • National Parole Board • Canadian Security Intelligence Service • Canada Border Services Agency • CSC is responsible for administering sentences of two years or more, as imposed by the Courts. • We do not determine guilt or innocence, impose sentences or determine whether an offender is released to the community to serve part of their sentence on parole • Our principle goal is PUBLIC SAFETY

3. CSC is responsible for 58 penitentiaries, including mental health facilities, women’s institutions and healing lodges • In the Prairie Region, which includes AB, NWT, SK, MB and NW Ontario, there are 13 men’s and 2 women’s institutions • CSC also has the following community based facilities: • 8 District Offices • 71 Parole Offices • 16 Community Correctional Centers (halfway houses run by CSC) • 175 Community Residential Facilities (halfway houses run by community partners)

4. MANAGEMENT OF OFFENDERS • The majority of people sentenced to federal institutions will eventually return to society • CSC’s goal is to ensure that the offender leaving the institution is better able to live as a contributing, law abiding citizen than the person who entered the institution • We assist offenders to accomplish this by developing and implementing a comprehensive correctional strategy that consists of programs and therapeutic interventions as well as security and ongoing supervision

5. The correctional process begins at Intake, which occurs immediately following sentencing and admission to the federal system. It does not end until the expiration of the offender’s sentence • By identifying what contributed to the offender’s criminal behaviour, the Case Management Team can develop a strategy to address those areas • This strategy is called the Correctional Plan, which forms the blueprint for the offender’s entire sentence

6. Static Factors: • Historical • Do not change • Examples: Age at first offence, criminal history, family background

7. Dynamic Factors: • Substance Abuse • Personal/Emotional Orientation • Attitude • Employment • Community Functioning • Marital/Family • Associates/Social Interaction

8. Discretionary Release Types: • Escorted Temporary Absence (ETA) • Work release (WR)/ Unescorted Temporary Absence (UTA) • Day Parole (DP) • Full Parole (FP)

9. Legislated Releases: • Accelerated Parole Review (APR) • Statutory Release (SR) • Long Term Supervision Order

10. Although all cases that are reviewed by the NPB are prepared and submitted by the Parole Officer, the NPB is the granting authority for all conditional releases • They have the authority to grant or deny a release, impose conditions deemed necessary to manage risk, and/or revoke a release previously granted

11. Special Conditions: • Abstain from drugs and/or alcohol • Avoid certain persons • Follow treatment plan • Keep PO apprised of finances • Keep PO apprised of relationships • Reside at a certain place

12. STANDARD CONDITIONS OF RELEASE: • Travel directly to location on certificate and report to PO as instructed • Remain in Canada within the boundaries fixed by PO • Obey the law and keep the peace • Inform PO on being questioned by Police • Carry release certificate and ID card at all times • Report to the Police when and if instructed by PO • Inform PO of any changes in address, employment, training, financial or family situation or any other change that may reasonably be expected to affect the offender’s ability to comply with conditions of parole or SR • Not own, possess or have control of any weapon except as authorized by PO

13. Supervision Activities: • Face to Face contact with the offender – either at home, work or in the community • Urinalysis (to monitor compliance with “abstain” conditions • Regular contact with “collaterals” (other sources of information regarding the offender) • Monitoring conditions of release

14. Three reasons to suspend a release • Return to custody after suspension • Referral of case to NPB

15. CSC AND THE POLICE • Parole-Police Liaison • Community Corrections Liaison Officer • Security Intelligence Officers • Divisional Parole Officers

16. WHAT TO DO IF YOU STOP SOMEONE ON PAROLE • Report the contact to the supervising Parole Office • Request to see his Parole Certificate

17. Information on released offenders sent by police to the correctional authorities is used in the supervision process. • Police reports contain information needed for CSC to prepare criminal profiles • Prior to an offender's release, a parole officer may contact the police agency in the area of the offender's destination to exchange relevant information on: • The offender • The offender’s associates • Potential sponsors • Feasibility of release • The requirement to report to the police

18. CPIC CHECKS • Is there a warrant out for the offender? • Is the offender out of the area of jurisdiction? • What conditions is the offender under? • What if an offender breaches parole? • What if an offender breaches a Long Term Supervision Order

19. Challenges and Initiatives • Health Care • Mental Health • Substance Abuse and Addictions • Aging Offenders • Women Offenders • Sexual Offenders • Dangerous Offenders • Gangs and Organized Crime • Aboriginal Offenders