Sure. Thank you very much.
Parole hearings are being conducted remotely via video conference or teleconference, as applicable, outside correctional institutions. The PBC has also worked to streamline its processes and has modified some of its policies to provide additional flexibility to CSC and community partners. For example, for offenders already in the community on day parole who become eligible for full parole, the PBC has implemented efficiencies to expedite those decisions by proceeding by way of paper review.
The PBC has also amended its policy to allow Correctional Services Canada to authorize emergency medical leave privileges for offenders residing in the community for up to 30 days rather than the current maximum of 15 days.
The PBC also continues to process parole-by-exception cases as expeditiously as possible. Parole by exception is a mechanism in law to permit parole consideration for offenders who have not yet reached their parole eligibility date, in exceptional circumstances including for offenders who are terminally ill or whose physical or mental health is likely to suffer damage if the offender continues to be held in confinement. Since March 1, 2020, seven parole-by-exception cases have been granted. There are currently 33 pending decisions. In comparison, only four parole-by-exception cases were granted in all of last year.
The PBC is also working with CSC to better accommodate the circumstances of offenders during the pandemic, such as imposing a condition to reside in a home or family environment where such placement is risk appropriate rather than in a community-based residential facility. Since March 1, we have been making an average of 11 day-parole-to-other-location decisions per week compared to five per week in 2019-20.
Further, the PBC has worked closely with CSC to review cases in which offenders residing in community-based residential facilities may have had their residency condition change to specify another location such as a family home. Since March 1, 2020, we have been averaging seven such decisions per week compared to an average of one decision per week last year.
Given the current restrictions due to COVID-19, the deadline for an offender to submit an appeal to the appeals division has been extended from two months to three months in order to assist the offenders in preparing their appeal, especially if they need to seek the support of outside resources. In accordance with the CCRA, offenders have the right to an assistant at their hearing. We have been able to facilitate participation of offender assistance remotely by teleconference.
The PBC remains committed to ensuring that victims' voices are heard during this unprecedented situation and that they continue to receive all legislated information to which they are entitled. The PBC has implemented technological and procedural enhancements, as an interim measure, in order to provide victims the ability to participate at PBC hearings via telephone and to have their victim statement considered by board members. Because our hearings are being held remotely, this means that a typical hearing can have six or more individuals connected from different locations. For victims who prefer not to attend a hearing, the PBC continues to accept victim statements in various formats including audio and video recording.
In these unprecedented times, the PBC has taken measures to ensure that it continues to deliver its important safety mandate under extraordinary circumstances. I am extremely proud of the resilience and commitment demonstrated by our board members and staff in the face of these challenges.
On a final note, I would also like to invite committee members interested in attending a full hearing, once we are back to conducting in-person hearings, to get in touch with us and we would be happy to facilitate that.
Thank you.