FAQ
Parole
What is Parole?
Parole is when a detainee who is considered to have good prospects of rehabilitation is released from prison to serve part of their sentence under supervision in the community.
People on Parole are supervised by CBC Parole Officers and may have to comply with a number of conditions.
Who is eligible for Parole?
All detainees who are sentenced to 12 months or more imprisonment can be considered for release on Parole after completing at least one-third of their sentence. Detainees serving life imprisonment sentence are eligible for consideration after serving ten years.
Parole is only available to adult offenders.
Who decides who is granted Parole?
A Parole Board comprising a legally qualified chairperson and other representatives decide which detainees should be released on parole after considering pre-parole reports and other factors surrounding the offence.
What are Pre-Parole Reports?
Before determining whether a detainee should be released on parole the Parole Board must consider two reports, one from Correctional Services called the Detainee Assessment Report (DAR) and the other prepared by community based corrections called Pre-Parole Reports (PPR).
The DAR gives details on the prisoner’s behavior in prison and what rehabilitation programs may have been under taken.
The PPR is prepared by a Parole Officer (also known as the Community Corrections Officer) following an investigation into the background of a detainee. This may include interviewing the offender’s family, friends, the victim, teachers, church leaders etc. The report assesses the amount of support the detainee might get in the community and the prospects of rehabilitation.
Detainees assessed by Correctional Services as being ‘minimum’ security are given priority over other cases.
Does a detainee have to apply for Parole?
Every Detainee who is eligible is automatically connected by Correctional Services to ask if the detainee wishes to be considered for parole. This does NOT mean every detainee will be granted parole.
A detainee must agree to parole and must sign the Parole Order.
What are the conditions of Parole?
All Parole Orders have what are called mandatory conditions. This include to reporting to a Parole Officer when directed, to be of good behavior, and obtaining permission before changing address or employment.
The Order may also have other conditions like abstaining from alcohol, undertaking special programs etc. that may assist the parolee’s rehabilitation.
Who Supervises people on parole?
Parole is supervised by Parole Officers or trained Voluntary Parole Officers who provide guidance support and counselling. They also carefully monitor the parolee’s compliance with the condition of the order.
What happens to someone who does not obey the conditions of Parole or who commits another offence?
People who do not comply with the conditions of their order or commit another offence are referred to the Parole Board that may revoke the parole and require the detainee to serve the remainder, or part of the sentence in the prison.
How successful is parole?
Parole is considered the best way of successfully reintegrating detainees back into the community and in helping restore peace and harmony in the community.
What is Probation?
Probation is a sentence imposed by the courts for selected offenders who are allowed to remain in the community instead of going to prison.
People on Probation are supervised by Probation Officers and may have to comply with a number of conditions.
Who is eligible for Probation?
It is up to the courts to decide who may be offered probation as an alternative to imprisonment.
Probation may be given for any offence except those that relate to the death of person or which carry a mandatory minimum sentence.
Probation may be given to adults or juvenile offenders where a pre-sentence report indicates they have a good prospect of rehabilitation and do not pose a serious risk to the community.
What is a pre-sentence report?
After the court finds a person guilty the Judge or Magistrate may request more information on the offender before deciding on the sentence that is to be given. This is called a ‘Pre-Sentence Report’.
The report is prepared by a Probation Officer (also known as a Community Corrections Officer) following an investigation into the background of the offender. The Probation Officer may interview the offender’s family, friends, the victim, teachers, church leaders or anyone else who might be able to give useful information about the offender’s background, the amount of support in the community and the prospect of rehabilitation.
Probation
Punishment, Reparation and Rehabilitation
The court uses this information to see if a person is suitable for a sentence of Probation. Probation can be for six months to five years depending on the law and the circumstances of the offence.
Can a person apply for Probation?
Probation cannot be applied for. It is up to the court to decide if someone should be considered after guilt is established. This may be at the request of community corrections officer, prosecutions or defence representative.
An offender must agree to probation and sign the Probation Order.
What are the conditions of Probation?
All Probation Orders have what are called mandatory conditions. These include to report to a Probation Officer when directed to be of good behavior, and to obtain permission before changing address or employment.
The order may also have additional conditions like performing a number of unpaid community work, to attend a school or church or any other condition that the court feels may assist the offender’s rehabilitation.Who supervises people on probation?
Probation is supervised by Probation Officers or trained Voluntary Probation Officers who provide guidance, support and counseling. They also carefully monitor the offender’s compliance with the conditions of the order.
What happens to someone who does not obey the conditions of probation or who commits another offence?
People who do not comply with the conditions of their order or commit another offence are returned to court to be dealt with. It is up to the court to determine what to do. It may mean the probation is cancelled and the person sent to prison.
How successful is probation as a sentence?
Worldwide Probation is seen as one of he most effective and successful ways of dealing with offenders and in restoring peace and harmony in the community.
Who is Community Based Correction Volunteer?
CBCs’ Volunteer (usually known as Volunteer Probation or Parole Officers) are people who assist CBC and their community by supervising and helping rehabilitate offenders sentenced by the courts or paroled by the Parole Board.
What do volunteers do?
Volunteers can do any of the things that are done by professional community corrections officers. It may be supervising, counselling and helping people on probation or parole, assisting in rehabilitation programs, representing community corrections in court, attending police stations and advising children who are being interviewed by police, helping families in trouble, organizing community work or any other task that helps rehabilitate offenders in their community.
Who can be a volunteer?
Volunteers come from all groups of people who want to help their community. They must be of good characters who by their behaviour can set a good example for probationers and parolees to follow.
Professional people like teachers, welfare officers, social workers, church workers, village court officers, police, staff of provincial administrations and local level government are all potentially good volunteers.
Volunteers
Helping Restore Peace and Harmony in the Community
However ordinary members of the community who are committed to helping restore peace and harmony to their community can make a valuable contribution. In particular member of church groups, community organizations and people of high standing in towns or villages are always in demand to do this most important voluntary work.
Do volunteers receive training?
Community Based Corrections is committed to providing volunteers with adequate training and support. There are several training courses available depending on the need. The training may be for a half day for one volunteer supervising a probationer or parolee in a village or up to three days for a full training course for groups of volunteers in major towns. The courses may be part time to assist people who are working or have household duties.
Special short training courses are provided for volunteers wishing to undertake specific tasks. These include:
1 Supervising or organizing community work
2 Attending police stations when juveniles are being interviewed.
3 Preparing reports for courts or interviewing detainees for the Parole Board
4 Assessing an offender’s suitability for probation.
Community Based Corrections is a team effort and all Volunteers are supported by community corrections professional staff who are on hand to give advice, support and direction. As a trained Volunteer you can have the full backing of the courts and the Parole Board.
Do volunteers get paid?
NO! Community Corrections Volunteers perform a service to their community and DO NOT GET PAID. There is some supervision for people to be reimbursed for out of pocket expenses necessarily incurred in carrying out their duties (PMV fares etc.) but these must be approved in advance.
How do I become a volunteer?
If you think you might suited to this most important and valuable community service or just require more information please contact the nearest community corrections office.
What is Parole?
Parole is when a detainee who is considered to have good prospects of rehabilitation is released from prison to serve part of their sentence under supervision in the community.
People on Parole are supervised by CBC Parole Officers and may have to comply with a number of conditions.
Who is eligible for Parole?
All detainees who are sentenced to 12 months or more imprisonment can be considered for release on Parole after completing at least one-third of their sentence. Detainees serving life imprisonment sentence are eligible for consideration after serving ten years.
Parole is only available to adult offenders.
Who decides who is granted Parole?
A Parole Board comprising a legally qualified chairperson and other representatives decide which detainees should be released on parole after considering pre-parole reports and other factors surrounding the offence.
What are Pre-Parole Reports?
Before determining whether a detainee should be released on parole the Parole Board must consider two reports, one from Correctional Services called the Detainee Assessment Report (DAR) and the other prepared by community based corrections called Pre-Parole Reports (PPR).
The DAR gives details on the prisoner’s behavior in prison and what rehabilitation programs may have been under taken.
The PPR is prepared by a Parole Officer (also known as the Community Corrections Officer) following an investigation into the background of a detainee. This may include interviewing the offender’s family, friends, the victim, teachers, church leaders etc. The report assesses the amount of support the detainee might get in the community and the prospects of rehabilitation.
Detainees assessed by Correctional Services as being ‘minimum’ security are given priority over other cases.
Does a detainee have to apply for Parole?
Every Detainee who is eligible is automatically connected by Correctional Services to ask if the detainee wishes to be considered for parole. This does NOT mean every detainee will be granted parole.
A detainee must agree to parole and must sign the Parole Order.
What are the conditions of Parole?
All Parole Orders have what are called mandatory conditions. This include to reporting to a Parole Officer when directed, to be of good behavior, and obtaining permission before changing address or employment.
The Order may also have other conditions like abstaining from alcohol, undertaking special programs etc. that may assist the parolee’s rehabilitation.
Who Supervises people on parole?
Parole is supervised by Parole Officers or trained Voluntary Parole Officers who provide guidance support and counselling. They also carefully monitor the parolee’s compliance with the condition of the order.
What happens to someone who does not obey the conditions of Parole or who commits another offence?
People who do not comply with the conditions of their order or commit another offence are referred to the Parole Board that may revoke the parole and require the detainee to serve the remainder, or part of the sentence in the prison.
How successful is parole?
Parole is considered the best way of successfully reintegrating detainees back into the community and in helping restore peace and harmony in the community.
What is Probation?
Probation is a sentence imposed by the courts for selected offenders who are allowed to remain in the community instead of going to prison.
People on Probation are supervised by Probation Officers and may have to comply with a number of conditions.
Who is eligible for Probation?
It is up to the courts to decide who may be offered probation as an alternative to imprisonment.
Probation may be given for any offence except those that relate to the death of person or which carry a mandatory minimum sentence.
Probation may be given to adults or juvenile offenders where a pre-sentence report indicates they have a good prospect of rehabilitation and do not pose a serious risk to the community.
What is a pre-sentence report?
After the court finds a person guilty the Judge or Magistrate may request more information on the offender before deciding on the sentence that is to be given. This is called a ‘Pre-Sentence Report’.
The report is prepared by a Probation Officer (also known as a Community Corrections Officer) following an investigation into the background of the offender. The Probation Officer may interview the offender’s family, friends, the victim, teachers, church leaders or anyone else who might be able to give useful information about the offender’s background, the amount of support in the community and the prospect of rehabilitation.
Probation
Punishment, Reparation and Rehabilitation
The court uses this information to see if a person is suitable for a sentence of Probation. Probation can be for six months to five years depending on the law and the circumstances of the offence.
Can a person apply for Probation?
Probation cannot be applied for. It is up to the court to decide if someone should be considered after guilt is established. This may be at the request of community corrections officer, prosecutions or defence representative.
An offender must agree to probation and sign the Probation Order.
What are the conditions of Probation?
All Probation Orders have what are called mandatory conditions. These include to report to a Probation Officer when directed to be of good behavior, and to obtain permission before changing address or employment.
The order may also have additional conditions like performing a number of unpaid community work, to attend a school or church or any other condition that the court feels may assist the offender’s rehabilitation.Who supervises people on probation?
Probation is supervised by Probation Officers or trained Voluntary Probation Officers who provide guidance, support and counseling. They also carefully monitor the offender’s compliance with the conditions of the order.
What happens to someone who does not obey the conditions of probation or who commits another offence?
People who do not comply with the conditions of their order or commit another offence are returned to court to be dealt with. It is up to the court to determine what to do. It may mean the probation is cancelled and the person sent to prison.
How successful is probation as a sentence?
Worldwide Probation is seen as one of he most effective and successful ways of dealing with offenders and in restoring peace and harmony in the community.
Who is Community Based Correction Volunteer?
CBCs’ Volunteer (usually known as Volunteer Probation or Parole Officers) are people who assist CBC and their community by supervising and helping rehabilitate offenders sentenced by the courts or paroled by the Parole Board.
What do volunteers do?
Volunteers can do any of the things that are done by professional community corrections officers. It may be supervising, counselling and helping people on probation or parole, assisting in rehabilitation programs, representing community corrections in court, attending police stations and advising children who are being interviewed by police, helping families in trouble, organizing community work or any other task that helps rehabilitate offenders in their community.
Who can be a volunteer?
Volunteers come from all groups of people who want to help their community. They must be of good characters who by their behaviour can set a good example for probationers and parolees to follow.
Professional people like teachers, welfare officers, social workers, church workers, village court officers, police, staff of provincial administrations and local level government are all potentially good volunteers.
Volunteers
Helping Restore Peace and Harmony in the Community
However ordinary members of the community who are committed to helping restore peace and harmony to their community can make a valuable contribution. In particular member of church groups, community organizations and people of high standing in towns or villages are always in demand to do this most important voluntary work.
Do volunteers receive training?
Community Based Corrections is committed to providing volunteers with adequate training and support. There are several training courses available depending on the need. The training may be for a half day for one volunteer supervising a probationer or parolee in a village or up to three days for a full training course for groups of volunteers in major towns. The courses may be part time to assist people who are working or have household duties.
Special short training courses are provided for volunteers wishing to undertake specific tasks. These include:
1 Supervising or organizing community work
2 Attending police stations when juveniles are being interviewed.
3 Preparing reports for courts or interviewing detainees for the Parole Board
4 Assessing an offender’s suitability for probation.
Community Based Corrections is a team effort and all Volunteers are supported by community corrections professional staff who are on hand to give advice, support and direction. As a trained Volunteer you can have the full backing of the courts and the Parole Board.
Do volunteers get paid?
NO! Community Corrections Volunteers perform a service to their community and DO NOT GET PAID. There is some supervision for people to be reimbursed for out of pocket expenses necessarily incurred in carrying out their duties (PMV fares etc.) but these must be approved in advance.
How do I become a volunteer?
If you think you might suited to this most important and valuable community service or just require more information please contact the nearest community corrections office.