Enhancing Public Safety Through Community-Based Correctional Programs

1. Solicitor General and Public Security Community Corrections and Release Programs

2. Probation or Parole • Probation is a sentence • It is administered provincially • Provincial offenders also include any sentenced of incarceration up to 2 years • Probation offers community based programs to adults and youths with 41 community corrections offices and two attendance centers located in 36 separate locations in Alberta. 

3. Probation • Rehabilitative in nature • Cannot exceed 3 years • Includes 3 mandatory conditions • All other conditions are optional

4. Not Just Probation • Conditional Sentence Orders • Peace Bonds  • Recognizances (Bail orders) • Attendance Centres

5. Conditional Sentences • Punitive and rehabilitative • Incarceration served in the community • Safety of community is not compromised • 5 statutory conditions • All other conditions are optional

6. Peace Bonds (810 CCC) • Preventative not punitive • In Calgary majority from DV Court • No criminal conviction • Maximum length 12 months

7. Pre Trial Release • Provides the Court with a community-based alternative to remanding accused persons in custody. • This alternative may be used by the Court for accused persons who require additional supervision while on bail release

8. Attendance Centre • Temporary Absences • Administration of community service work • Fine option • Surveillance/Electronic Monitoring • Educational and rehabilitative programs

9. Temporary Absence (T.A.) • Allows for minimum security offenders to receive a conditional release from provincial correctional facilities for employment, educational, medical or humanitarian reasons, once they have served at least 1/3 of their sentence.  • Intended to help offenders successfully reintegrate into the community as productive, law-abiding citizens. 

10. T. A. eligibility The offender: • is not considered a threat to the community; • has demonstrated acceptable behavior suggesting the probability of responsible behavior if released on T. A; • has been involved in and responded favorably to meaningful centre programs; • has demonstrated a consistently positive attitude towards becoming a law-abiding citizen upon release; • is not likely to go UAL once granted a T. A. Permit; • His/her rehabilitation and reintegration into the community will be assisted by a conditional return to the community; • The offender’s release will not precipitate specific and substantial opposition from the community or police;

11. Community Service / FOP • Snow shoveling and lawn cutting for seniors • Garbage pick up on highways • Community event set up or clean up • Painting for local churches or groups • Playground construction

12. Surveillance / E. M. • T. A. House Arrest –for weekenders • T. A. Surveillance Supervision –curfew seven nights a week • Conditional Sentence – curfew determined by the Court • Electronic Monitoring in select cases

13. Promoting Safe Communities • Balancing the liberty of the offender with protection of society • Shift in philosophy • Risk Assessments completed within 30 days of supervision commencement • Referrals for intervention are initiated at the onset • Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of offender • Regular reporting to ensure compliance • Offender accountability maintained through the violation process for non compliance

14. Collaborative Approaches • High Risk Offender Programs • Gangs • SHOP (SHOCAP) • Prolific Offenders • Drug Court • Domestic Violence

15. QUESTIONS