Corrections and Conditional Release Act

Marginal note:Mandatory hearings

• 140 (1) The Board shall conduct the review of the case of an offender by way of a hearing, conducted in whichever of the two official languages of Canada is requested by the offender, unless the offender waives the right to a hearing in writing or refuses to attend the hearing, in the following classes of cases:

  • (a) the first review for day parole pursuant to subsection 122(1), except in respect of an offender serving a sentence of less than two years;

  • (b) the first review for full parole under subsection 123(1) and subsequent reviews under subsection 123(5), (5.01) or (5.1);

  • (c) a review conducted under section 129 or subsection 130(1) or 131(1) or (1.1);

  • (d) a review following a cancellation of parole; and

  • (e) any review of a class specified in the regulations.

• Marginal note:Discretionary hearing

  (2) The Board may elect to conduct a review of the case of an offender by way of a hearing in any case not referred to in subsection (1).

• Marginal note:Dispensing with hearing

  (3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), in respect of any class of offenders specified in the regulations, the Board may conduct a review referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) without a hearing in order to decide whether

  • (a) to grant parole, subject to the offender’s acceptance in writing of the conditions of parole; or

  • (b) to hold a hearing before the rendering of a decision.

• Marginal note:Attendance by observers

  (4) Subject to subsections (5) and (5.1), the Board or a person designated, by name or by position, by the Chairperson of the Board shall, subject to such conditions as the Board or person considers appropriate and after taking into account the offender’s views, permit a person who applies in writing therefor to attend as an observer at a hearing relating to an offender, unless the Board or person is satisfied that

  • (a) the hearing is likely to be disrupted or the ability of the Board to consider the matter before it is likely to be adversely affected by the presence of that person or of that person in conjunction with other persons who have applied to attend the hearing;

  • (b) the person’s presence is likely to adversely affect those who have provided information to the Board, including victims, members of a victim’s family or members of the offender’s family;

  • (c) the person’s presence is likely to adversely affect an appropriate balance between that person’s or the public’s interest in knowing and the public’s interest in the effective reintegration of the offender into society; or

  • (d) the security and good order of the institution in which the hearing is to be held is likely to be adversely affected by the person’s presence.

• Marginal note:Exclusion of observers

  (5) Where in the course of a hearing the Board concludes that any of the possible situations described in subsection (4) is likely to exist, it may decide to continue the hearing in the absence of observers or of a particular observer.

• Marginal note:Attendance by victim or member of their family

  (5.1) In determining whether to permit a victim or a member of the victim’s family to attend as an observer at a hearing, the Board or its designate shall make every effort to fully understand the need of the victim and of the members of his or her family to attend the hearing and witness its proceedings. The Board or its designate shall permit a victim or a member of his or her family to attend as an observer unless satisfied that the presence of the victim or family member would result in a situation described in paragraph (4)(a), (b), (c) or (d).

• Marginal note:Attendance not permitted

  (5.2) If the Board or its designate decides under subsection (5.1) to not permit a victim or a member of his or her family to attend a hearing, the Board shall provide for the victim or family member to observe the hearing by any means that the Board considers appropriate.

• Marginal note:Access to information

  (6) Where an observer has been present during a hearing, any information or documents discussed or referred to during the hearing shall not for that reason alone be considered to be publicly available for purposes of the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act.

• Marginal note:Assistance to offender

  (7) Where a review by the Board includes a hearing at which the offender is present, the Board shall permit the offender to be assisted by a person of the offender’s choice unless the Board would not permit the presence of that person as an observer pursuant to subsection (4).

• Marginal note:Role of assistant

  (8) A person referred to in subsection (7) is entitled

  • (a) to be present at the hearing at all times when the offender is present;

  • (b) to advise the offender throughout the hearing; and

  • (c) to address, on behalf of the offender, the members of the Board conducting the hearing at times they adjudge to be conducive to the effective conduct of the hearing.

• Marginal note:Right to interpreter

  (9) An offender who does not have an adequate understanding of at least one of Canada’s official languages is entitled to the assistance of an interpreter at the hearing and for the purpose of understanding materials provided to the offender pursuant to subsection 141(1) and paragraph 143(2)(b).

• Marginal note:Presentation of statements

  (10) If they are attending a hearing as an observer,

  • (a) a victim may present a statement describing the harm, property damage or loss suffered by them as the result of the commission of the offence and its continuing impact on them — including any safety concerns — and commenting on the possible release of the offender; and

  • (b) a person referred to in subsection 142(3) may present a statement describing the harm, property damage or loss suffered by them as the result of any act of the offender in respect of which a complaint was made to the police or Crown attorney or an information laid under the Criminal Code, and its continuing impact on them — including any safety concerns — and commenting on the possible release of the offender.

• Marginal note:Consideration of statement

  (10.1) The Board shall, in deciding whether an offender should be released and what conditions might be applicable to the release, take into consideration any statement that has been presented in accordance with paragraph (10)(a) or (b).

• Marginal note:Forms of statement

  (11) If a victim or a person referred to in subsection 142(3) is not attending a hearing, their statement may be presented at the hearing in the form of a written statement, which may be accompanied by an audio or video recording, or in any other form prescribed by the regulations.

• Marginal note:Communication of statement in writing

  (12) A victim or a person referred to in subsection 142(3) shall, before the hearing, deliver to the Board a transcript of the statement that they plan to present under subsection (10) or (11).