Thank you for that provocation, Mr. Chair.
Actually, I appreciate the opportunity to appear before your committee, Mr. Chair, and your sensitivity to the role of my office. This is an unusual presentation for us. In terms of the notice, it also was an opportunity for our office to practise its rapid response capabilities.
My purpose here is to reflect on the impact Bill C-59, the Abolition of Early Parole Act, would have on the system and on those under sentence who are serving their time in the system.
If enacted, Bill C-59 will likely lead to an increase in the incarcerated offender population managed by the Correctional Service of Canada by adding to the length of time served prior to conditional release. My office is concerned about the impact of another significant increase in the inmate population on an already burdened correctional system. An increase in the federal inmate population will affect the safety and security of institutions as well as the ability of individual inmates to receive the programs and services that will assist in their safe and timely return to their communities.
I'd like to first address the overall impact of Bill C-59. Then I'll ask my executive director and general counsel, Dr. Ivan Zinger, to speak about the specific impact of prison crowding on staff and offender safety.
Based on statistics for 2009-10 obtained from the Parole Board of Canada, in the past five years, 7,272 offenders were entitled to be considered for accelerated parole review day parole consideration at one-sixth of their sentences. Of those, 4,878 were directed to day parole. The grant rate is 67%. In the past five years, the successful completion rate of those directed to day parole was nearly 84%. Significantly, only 0.3% released on APR day parole resulted in a revocation for a violent offence, which of course is the test in the legislation as it exists. Most revocations were for administrative reasons.
Now, in the past five years, 5,255 offenders were entitled to be considered for APR, or accelerated parole review, for full parole release at one-third. Of those, significantly, 5,227 were directed to full parole. The grant rate was 99.5%, and in the past five years, the successful completion rate was 70%. Only 0.4% of those released on full parole as a result of APR resulted in a revocation for a violent offence.
It's also important to say that release on APR at one-sixth is not automatic. For example, Parole Board of Canada data for 2009-10 indicate that 947 APR releases were directed, while 545 were denied. It's important to note that PBC only releases offenders who do not pose an undue risk to society and who will be under close supervision by parole officers while they are in the community. In all cases, released offenders on parole continue to be under sentence and are monitored by the Correctional Service of Canada until their warrant expiry dates.
The purpose and principles of sentencing are described in detail in the Canadian Criminal Code. Conditional release does not undermine these principles. The Corrections and Conditional Release Act states that public safety is paramount in corrections and conditional release decisions. It also stipulates that the least restrictive options consistent with public safety must be the guiding principles for those decisions.
The abolition of APR will result in non-violent offenders remaining in federal custody for significantly longer periods before being released into the community, this with limited net public safety benefit. It should be noted that the cost of incarceration is more significant than the cost related to offenders serving their sentences in the community under various restrictions.
We can also expect that the Parole Board of Canada will have to hold more hearings than before, as APR typically is conducted by a paper review.
These associated costs, in addition to significant incarceration costs, are important and need to be calculated.
Dr. Zinger.