In the first fifteen months of its operation, the Alberta Parole Board reviewed 96 applications. This figure is in stark contrast to its federal counterparts, which processed 2,657 Alberta detainee files during the same period.
As a result of a commitment in the election of current Premier Jason Kenney, the Alberta Parole Board is responsible for reviewing the files of inmates of provincial correctional centers applying for parole.
After about a year and a half of activity, it was able to process 28 times fewer files than the federal commission had, between 1eh February 2021 and March 31, 2022, considered 2,657 applications from offenders in Alberta.
Its president Rick Hanson seems to have explained this difference by the time factor.
If you receive thousands of requests [de libertés conditionnelles] do you have time to check them all carefully […]he asked in an interview last month.
Similarly, the Alberta Department of Justice reports that it takes an average of 96 days for the provincial board to compile an inmate information package, and approximately eight days for an inmate information package. evaluate it and make a decision.
Rick Hanson also said that despite the relatively small number of cases handled by the commission he heads, the Albertans benefit greatly from the $ 680,000 in annual public funds allocated to the mission.
The use of the lantern
Generally, offenders sentenced to less than two years serve their sentence in provincial jails. Those sentenced to two years or more are incarcerated for their part in federal prisons.
Inmates can apply for parole after serving one-third of their sentence, and most are eligible for statutory release after serving two-thirds.
Rick Hanson said inmates in the province receive an information package explaining the procedures for applying for parole when they arrive at prison. Because provincial sentences are shorter, some are eligible for them within days or weeks after arriving behind bars, he said.
One of the conditions is to require, if applicable, an inmate to attend a residential addiction treatment program. So far, four parolees are subject to this condition, explained the chairman of the provincial commission of parole.
He also said the commission follows the condition that prisoners are released on a long-term basis to see who has re-offended and who has successfully reunited with society and what circumstances led to successful reunification.
Reported deficiencies
Since the creation of the provincial commission, 44 parole applications have been approved. In addition, the parole of three people was revoked.
Ellen Sutherland is a criminal attorney and represents several offenders seeking parole. Although he welcomes the existence of a provincial commission, he nevertheless considers that it has shortcomings.
He suggests, for example, that the provincial system places inmates on day parole in half -houses as the federal system does.
He also cited the lack of hearing in the Alberta system where the process is done in writing, which he said could prevent some inmates who are unaware or have difficulty writing from applying for parole.
Ellen Sutherland also asked the provincial commission to publish its decisions to allow, for example, the public to understand the elements that motivated such and such decisions.
Justice Minister Tyler Shandro said the public could ask the department to see copies of individual decisions.
Professor of sociology at the University of Alberta, Temitope Oriola agrees with Ellen Sutherland’s view and urges the commission to actively publish its decisions and their rationale online.
Rick Hanson said the commission is considering anonymizing-for privacy reasons-and shortening decisions for posting online at a later date. However, he did not commit to a timetable.
There is information from Janet French
Source: Radio-Canada
