Episode 2: Hit the Ground Running

Employment's a big, big thing for the guys on parole because they've been inside for quite some time. A lot of guys feel guilty for missing out because they're incarcerated. So when they come out, they really want to hit the ground running and, get back into the swing of things. So it's a win win win for everybody, for the community, to give the guys a good sense of worth.

Intro

For most offenders, prison only represents part of their sentence. At some point, most will serve a good portion of their sentence under supervision in the community. While correctional officers supervise inside institutions, parole officers take on that role for offenders in the community.

HIT THE GROUND RUNNING

Today, we're following Joe, a parole officer in Hamilton.

Morning. Morning. Morning.

So today, I will be out of the office and going into the community and meeting with various people and, guys on federal parole, in their work, home, or halfway house environment.

Joe's caseload takes him across the Hamilton Parole Office's jurisdiction, although most visits happen within the city.

Parolee A

It's roughly 7:30, and we're just heading out for a supervision meeting.

Today I'm just giving him his travel pass document. That kind of, shows the radius in which he can move around for parole. We renew these, a guy like this who's been out a while, annually.

Yes, sir. How you doing, man? You good?

Good, good.

Alright.

After reviewing an updated travel permit, the conversation turns to something more meaningful. The parolee reflects on his progress and the milestones he’s reached since returning to the community.

That's typical. You know, as I said, we've been together almost a decade.

Most of the heavy lifting was done earlier on in his sentence when he first got out, as he was alluding to, there was some child custody stuff.

And over the course of the last nine years, like, they've actually come to a good situation where the kids are doing well and, things are as they should be, once you take out the whole parole and incarceration stuff.

Parolee B

After doing some administrative work at the office, Joe heads out for a busy day of community supervision meetings all over the city.

Today we're going to meet one of the parolees at a job site. He works in the construction area, industry. Him and his boss, are going to meet with me. So this serves two purposes. It lets me confirm that you have a job and that you're gainfully employed.

This also gives me an opportunity to talk to his employer and make sure he understands that, the job has to be above board and not under the table. You know, with proper invoicing and paychecks and all of that. And also maybe answer any kind of questions that they may have.

I find typically in the unionized construction labor type jobs, that industry is very receptive to guys on parole and second chances and all of that. So with this one, he has to get back in the union, pay up his dues and all of that.

It's kind of towards the road to some success because you're generating an income, doing something productive and hopefully not going down the road that led you to us in the first place.

And this is a first time meeting, so everybody's a little bit nervous or apprehensive. What's this all about? Are you guys going to be here a lot? That kind of stuff. So I tend to try and keep it away. Like I'm not going to walk right on the construction site and say, hey, I'm looking for so-and-so or anything like that. We just set it up so that we're very close to it. But also trying to respect people's privacy, and not compromise, otherwise good work situation.

John speaking.

Hey, John, it’s Joe again.

Yeah. He's on his way over to you.

Okay. Perfect. Thanks, man.

Yeah.

So right now they're at the stage where they're just digging the hole and then they'll get you on. What are they going to have you doing here? What are you working on?

I'm a carpenter. Concrete formworker.

Okay, so concrete forming and carpentry. Okay. And your union stuff, has that all been sorted or?

After another successful visit, Joe reflects on the challenges many encounter as they adjust to life outside prison.

Employment's a big, big thing for the guys on parole because they've been inside for quite some time. And then when they get out, that's kind of one of the barriers between that and housing. Those are kind of the two big issues where you have to try and get yourself reengaged.

So it's a win win win for everybody, for the community, to give the guys a good sense of worth. And in his situation, to help provide for his family. Because, a lot of guys feel guilty for missing out because they're incarcerated. So when they come out, they really want to hit the ground running and, get back into the swing of things. So, like I said, employment really helps.

Parolee C

Our next visit takes us to the home of a man serving a life sentence in the suburbs of Hamilton. Although he’s no longer incarcerated, he will remain under CSC supervision for the rest of his life. He and his wife share what decades of accountability, supervision and reintegration have looked like.

Well, I had a three year day parole period. So it was a rather long period where I was going through the transition. It wasn't just, you know, straight out on to full parole. And, when I first got out, there was times where I would be standing in front of a door waiting for someone to open it, out in public.

And people were going: the door’s not locked. That was probably one of the biggest things that hit me. I was just so used to the system where you don't go anywhere. I would go into a store and when I was leaving I would be thinking, okay, do they not want to pat me down? Like it was just, it was very odd.

And I would say it probably took me at least six months to a year before I started to get over that, and it disappeared completely. Now I would say, you know, I don't even give it a second thought, it's been so long. And because, we're talking, I'll be, 20 years on full parole come this July.

I mean, their life is pretty much as you see it. It's set. And we're kind of in the background. And that's kind of how it should be. That's how this system is supposed to work. And as he explained, he started out in a halfway house.

How long? Three years. And progressed from there into the community. Alright.

Well, I appreciate that this system allows for, getting back into society. And, I know that there are a lot of heavy thoughts, that he has about the past, but we're able to enjoy the present.

He's a good man and a good husband. And, there are so many things that he contributes. And I'm really happy that he's been allowed and given the opportunity to do that.

So, he's very well versed in all of that. He's been out 20 years. He's been in the industry. So now, they're talking about next stage planning. That's the way they can view everything. Like they're close to retirement. The house is almost paid off. But he's also cognizant that I'm on parole for the rest of my life.

Lifers get it, I think because of the exposure they've had to the system and the length of time before they even get a chance to even come back into society.

And when they get that chance, you know, they will do everything not to to blow it, because the ramifications of you messing up as a lifer on parole are a lot different than somebody with a determinate sentence. Somebody like that, he's not going back.

And that's kind of how it's supposed to work. Lock them up, throw out the key, it warehouses people. But it also puts them in a situation where you're kind of fatalistic. Well, look, I'm just not getting out, so what's the point? Yeah. So the carrot is, look, you're going to pay your debt to society, but you do have a chance.

At the same time, you got to be judicious as to who you give that opportunity to in the community. But somebody like him, it would have been a, it wouldn't make sense to just keep him just sitting there, when you can see the result of this.

St-Leonard’s halfway house

We are going to one of the community based residential facilities. Known in layman's term, a halfway house. So this one is run by Saint Leonard’s.

At Saint-Leonard’s Clinton House, staff provide structured housing and support that help residents transition successfully back into the community.

Good day! How are you doing?

Hi Joe, how are you?

I'm good. I'm good. I'm good. Colin in his office?

Yeah he’s in his office.

Colin!

Yo!

Yes, sir.!

Are we going down to your office for a quick little chat?

We can do that, if you want to do that.

Sure. Okay.

So, yeah, I wanted to start here, give you the opportunity to just talk a little bit about the place, the type of guys you have, how it works here.

Yeah. So I I'm Colin Avery, I'm the program director here at Saint Leonard's Clinton House. So it's literally what it sounds like. So it's halfway between, institution and community. So, guys come out of the institution and it's to find a bit of stability when they're coming out. And we kind of help that void a little bit. Sometimes guys don't have houses, sometimes they don't have jobs, they don't have any of those things.

So we kind of help connect the resources and they're usually here for an average of about six months. And then they kind of transition out to whatever their more permanent living situation is.

Yeah, feel free to arrange or move things however you guys want.

So periodically, I will actually come to the facility, meet with, the offender plus his caseworker, or sometimes one on one, just to get a sense of how things are going on around here and checking in. There's a lot of services that come out of a place like this for the guys. Whether it's helping them find work or, making sure they're here, you know, whatever rules they have.

So it's a good place for us to check in, and then it saves them having to come to the office. So we kind of mix it up. So today's just a standard supervision interview.

Parolee D

It's a different hearing. Right? And it's not like I have to speak for myself. So I don't see the point of having a cultural rep.

Okay. And I'll kind of counter that by telling you the benefit of that, is because it still keeps that cultural lens in the decision making process. And because you're working with that community based African diaspora, counseling service, we're going to get the letter from them. But I think it's important also for somebody else reviewing this to also put that perspective in, for you, because you're doing all of that work voluntarily, and consistently.

So that's why. But I'm not going to tick a box for you if you don't want that to be considered.

Parolee E

And where are we on the doctor?

I still haven’t heard back from the doctor.

Okay.

I'm probably going to have to go back there.

Okay, but you're on a wait list or?

Yeah. They said a couple of months.

Okay, we might have to try a different, approach then, see if we can attach you to somebody in the walk in, even though I know you went there, but, it's tough out there, to get a medical doctor. But obviously to keep everything else we're doing for you, you need a doctor.

Parolee F

But as I said, crawl, walk, run. And you haven't even been out a month. So you're doing okay. And usually it's all of this stuff getting sorted out helps with the future stuff, so it's good that Saint Leonard’s is actually able to provide a little bit of work, plus a certificate, to help you if you want to go into the food industry outside of this place.

And that is my objective. I want to get into the food industry. That's my vision.

Okay.

Parolee G

If the conditions set by the Parole Board of Canada are breached, parole can be suspended or revoked and the parolee may be returned to federal custody.

Okay, so we had a dirty urine test.

Yeah.

Tested positive for cocaine. We sorted that out. You maintain the support of the halfway house. You're in program now. Curfew's been reduced. No weekend passes. And you're trying to work your way back?

Yeah.

Okay.

Yeah. Sample tested negative.

Okay. So we're back on track. So I don't want to go down that road again because you got to maintain their support of this place. And if you're using drugs and all of that, this doesn't work. It's not conducive to staying in the community.

So this is good. We'll keep testing you and make sure that it's always, negative. But I'm going to just share this. I'll put it on your file.

Community Assessment

Next is a Community Assessment. Before someone can move into a new residence, parole officers evaluate whether the environment is safe, stable and appropriate for successful reintegration.

So this is kind of just to update between now and then. And just for me, obviously, to confirm where you're living, because the last time you met with us, you were at a completely different address. I did read that report.

Saw a lot of things were going on at that time. So before we get into talking about our friend out west, I just wanted you to bring me up to speed. And I have a couple of questions just to kind of fill me in on what's happened since we last talked to you.

We don't know what the parole board is going to do. That's why I wanted to introduce the concept of a halfway house for him. Because the halfway house isn't that far away. It might be a scenario. And that's the case I was talking to Ryan about. Where, maybe you start off there. You're close to your supports, but you're not completely from institution straight to the house, and you work your way there, if that's the plan.

Collateral Visit

Ok, now we’re going to the other side of the city.

Part of our mandate is to get out in the community and meet your people, your network. We call them collateral contacts. So it can be at work. It can be at school. It could be your significant other. It could be your mom, your dad, your aunt, your uncle.

Just to get a good snapshot of everybody who's involved in your life, you know, because, in a warped way, anybody attached to you also is along for the parole ride. And half of what we do is kind of like educating and guiding and understanding and verifying stuff.

And obviously, public safety is the main goal for us. So having a positive network is something that we view as something that's conducive to good rehabilitation in the community.

We're just doing what we call kind of a collateral visit. One of the guys in the halfway house, just meeting with his family to kind of catch up. Get their perspective and just talk about, how their contact is doing in the halfway house and what we can expect and how they can help us, achieve a goal of a good return to the community.

Usually people close to you can see when you're doing well or when you're slipping. And it's good to at least have this benefit of a relationship. Like they would know who to call either if they have a question or any kind of concerns.

Come on in.

Thank you.

How are you Joe?

I'm fine. How are you doing?

I’m good.

This is just a follow up. You know, we talked last time. Yeah. Just connecting since I'm out and about. I was just at the halfway house, met with him, so he knows I was coming out here. Yeah. Last time I was able to now establish this is the place where he will take weekend passes when he's eligible again.

Yeah.

Halton Regional Police

Our next stop is we're heading to the regional police headquarters to meet with our police liaison officer. And this is the officer that deals with a lot of parole and probation clients. And it's our link to the police service. And we have a working relationship, because as much as we're doing public safety in the community, so are the local police agencies.

So this is just a check in, because I do have a few people that are on parole in Halton. And we're just going to meet with him and give him the opportunity to also explain and expand what his role is in the community in conjunction with federal parole.

Here we go. There's the man. The man, the legend.

What's going on guys?

So specifically, I'm in charge, it's called offender management. So everybody that's on parole, probation, anybody on a release order, anybody that's a sex offender. They're kind of under my umbrella. I work closely with parole because a lot of, I guess you call them, refer to them as inmates, get released on statutory release, into our community.

And it's my job to work in conjunction with the parole officers to kind of conduct compliance checks on them to make sure they're abiding by their conditions, to make sure they're signing-in when they're required to do so. Make sure they're not obviously breaching any of the conditions or obviously lying to the parole officers or to the police as well.

It's just, it's nice to kind of get that intel on some of these offenders, because we all know that people are not super trustworthy or are not all telling the truth. So it's nice to kind of have that reassurance from a parole officer.

And then when I do my role, I kind of verify, what they're telling the parole officers to ensure that they're abiding by their conditions or they're residing where they say, they’re residing, or they're working where they say they're working and that kind of stuff. Yeah.

So I think across the board, the community's the better for it. Because federal parole is doing their thing, the local police are doing their thing. And it's all under that big public safety umbrella.

And it justifies what we're doing in the community, to the community at large. And then all of our higher ups on both sides know: Hey, we're on top of these guys.

Urinalysis Testing

The next morning, the office is already bustling. Parolees from across the area are waiting their turn to provide a sample as part of mandatory urinalysis testing.

So the way the urinalysis program works is this is how we monitor the abstinence condition. If somebody has a condition saying that they can't use drugs or alcohol. It's probably the best program we have, because either you're positive or negative. Technology and all of that stuff really makes it hard for you to not get an accurate reading as to what kind of drugs may or may not be in your system.

The key thing is that we can't give you super advance notice, because that's counterproductive to what we're trying to do. So if we tell them within a proper window, then it's not going to compromise whatever the results are going to be. But I can't say: Hey, next week, Monday, kind of- like that's too long.

Outro

As we conclude our time with Joe, we ask him if he enjoys doing these community visits.

Yeah, because it breaks up kind of the monotony. We're not tied to the desk all day, every day. And it lets us actualize things that we're reading about. Like, you can tell me you got a job, okay? And I can get a pay stub, but it's nice to actually see where you're working, what you're doing, who you're interacting with. It ebbs and flows and we ebb and flow with it. So yeah, I enjoy the variety.