Delayed Paroles Pose Safety Risk, Cost Taxpayers: AG Report
"Correctional Services Canada has agreed to look into
why the vast majority of offenders are remaining behind bars past their
first parole eligibility date.
Today’s auditor general’s report detailing
Corrections measures for preparing male offenders for release concluded
that 80 per cent of male prisoners in Canada are still incarcerated past
their first opportunity for parole. And 54 per cent of offenders are
being released directly from penitentiary only on their statutory
release date – most from medium and maximum security prisons – instead
of being slowly introduced back into the community.
This poses a risk to the community, the report
concludes. Studies show a slower reintegration of offenders into the
community increases their chances of a successful return to life on the
outside, and reduces their risk of reoffending.
Delays in parole also increase the load on the
taxpayer, as it’s three times more costly to keep a prisoner
incarcerated than to supervise him in the community. Since March 2011,
custody costs have risen by more than $90 million. Although admissions
into federal custody have not increased, the report says the rise in
cost is due to offenders serving larger stretches of their sentences
behind bars."
View the Auditor General's Full Report: Preparing Male Offenders for Release - Correctional Service Canada