Roles and Responsibilities of a Board member

From: Parole Board of Canada

The Parole Board of Canada (PBC) is an independent administrative tribunal. The PBC makes decisions on the conditional release for offenders sentenced to federal institutions and for offenders sentenced to provincial institutions in provinces and territories where there are no provincial or territorial boards of parole. The PBC also renders decisions regarding record suspensions for former offenders who have successfully re-entered society as law‑abiding citizens; and makes clemency recommendations.

Role of a Board member

Preparation for hearings

Decision-Making: Hearings and Office Reviews

• While the majority of Board member’s work is performed in the office, some of the work takes place in institutions. In some institutions (minimum and medium security), the Board members will be in the presence of offenders while walking the corridors.
• Decisions are made by one or two Board members, either through an in-office file review (without a hearing) or a hearing with the offender and their parole officer. The hearing may take place in person, usually at the institution where the offender is incarcerated, or remotely by videoconference or teleconference.
• Hearing days begin at 8:00 a.m. and rarely end before 4:30 p.m. Generally, Board members will advise the offender of their decision and reasons at the hearing and will provide the written decision and reasons no later than 15 days after the day on which the decision was made.
• Hearings are conducted in close proximity to offenders, whether they are taking place in-person or remotely. At times, Board members must be able to manage confrontational and aggressive behaviours.
• Some hearings are held in the presence of Indigenous Elders in accordance with Indigenous culture and spirituality. In some cases, the Elder performs a smudging ceremony by burning sacred herbs in the hearing room.
• Hearings can also be held in the presence of victims, offender assistants, Cultural Advisors, observers and the media.
• In general, Board members render eight in-office decisions on days intended for this purpose. Some Board members may also render decisions in record suspension cases (formerly pardons).
• Board members are often confronted by human misery. Board members must remain objective, while being exposed to disturbing and offensive information.
• They are to understand and apply Court decisions.
• They are to work with another Board member to conduct hearings but render decisions independently.
• Board members are to consider the protection of society as the main focus of the decision-making.
• They adopt well-developed interviewing skills and display active listening skills.
• They are tasked with writing clear, concise and comprehensive decisions based on a thorough risk assessment. These decisions should be able to withstand scrutiny from offenders, victims, and society in general.

Professionalism

Terms and conditions of employment

• Full-time members must be willing to relocate close to the regional office (Moncton, Montreal, Kingston, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Abbotsford).
• Board members are required to travel in the performance of their duties. Given the travel distance to the institutions, Board members start very early in the morning and return home at irregular times. Board members should expect to be away from home overnight frequently.
• Board members are subject to the Treasury Board Travel Directive for work-related travel.
• Salary ranges: GCQ 4: Full-time Board member: $141,700.00 - $166,600.00/year;
  GCQ 4: Part-time Board member: $710 - $835 per day. Part-time members do not receive any benefits (i.e. vacations, sick leave, pension plan, etc.)
• For more information on the Terms and Conditions of Employment for Full-Time Governor in Council Appointees (GIC), please refer to the Government of Canada GIC Appointments Website.
• Statutes and guidelines govern the conduct and actions of GIC appointees while in office. Please refer to the following links for more details:
  
  
  • The Conflict of Interest Act establishes conflict of interest and post-employment compliance measures for public office-holders. The Act is administered by the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.
    
  • The Ethical Guidelines for Public Office Holders outline four ethical principles that must be adhered to by all public office holders, please refer to the Government of Canada GIC Appointments Website mentioned above and go to General Information – Reference Material.
    
  • The Guidelines for the Political Activities of Public Office Holders are based on the general principle that public office holders should not participate in any political activity which might impair, or be seen to impair, their ability to discharge their duties in a politically impartial manner or cast doubt on the integrity or impartiality of the office. Please refer to the Government of Canada GIC Appointments Website mentioned above and go to General Information – Reference Material.

Part-time Board members