Conditional Release Decisions: Convictions

Official Title: Performance Monitoring Report 2017-2018, Conditional Release Decisions: Convictions
From: Parole Board of Canada

Convictions

Tables 115-118

Rates of conviction are another useful indicator when assessing the performance of offenders on conditional release. 
In reviewing the rates of conviction information, it should be noted that the number of convictions will often fluctuate higher during the 12 to 18 months after a fiscal year ends because outstanding charges often take that long to be resolved by the courts. The Parole Board of Canada adjusts its rates of conviction accordingly.

Figure 22. Convictions for Violent Offences on Federal Conditional Release

Note: The year 2017/18 is shown, but not used in calculations, because the number of convictions will often fluctuate higher during the 12 to 18 months after a fiscal year ends because outstanding charges often take that long to be resolved by the courts.

• Over the last ten years (between 2007/08 and 2016/17), the number of convictions for a violent offence decreased 65% for offenders on federal conditional release (from 255 in 2007/08 to 90 in 2016/17). Day parolees averaged 11 convictions for violent offences annually and full parolees, 13 convictions, compared to 129 by offenders on statutory release.
• Over the last ten years (between 2007/08 and 2016/17), convictions for violent offences on statutory release accounted for 85% of all convictions for violent offences by offenders on federal conditional release.
• A look at the rates of conviction for violent offences per 1,000 supervised offenders provides a more comprehensive picture of offenders’ performance on conditional release.

Figure 23. Rates of Conviction for Violent Offences per 1,000 Supervised Offenders

Note: The year 2017/18 is shown but not used in calculations, because the number of convictions will often fluctuate higher during the 12 to 18 months after a fiscal year ends because outstanding charges often take that long to be resolved by the courts.

• Over the last ten years (between 2007/08 and 2016/17), offenders on statutory release were 11 and a half times more likely to commit a violent offence during their supervision periods than offenders on full parole, and four and a half times more likely to commit a violent offence than offenders on day parole.
• Over the past five years (between 2012/13 to 2016/17), offenders serving sentences for schedule I non-sex offences were the most likely to be convicted of a violent offence on each type of conditional release, whereas offenders serving sentences for schedule II offences were the least likely.
• Over the same five-year period, Indigenous offenders were the most likely to be convicted of a violent offence on full parole and statutory release, while White offenders were the most likely to be convicted of a violent offence on day parole. Offenders in the Other category were the least likely to be convicted of a violent offence on any type of supervision period.
• Over the last five years (between 2012/13 to 2016/17), convictions for violent offences on conditional release decreased in all regions, except the Atlantic region, which reported one more conviction than in 2012/13. The Quebec and Prairie regions accounted for the majority of all convictions (63%) in the last five years.

Table 115. Rates of Conviction for Violent Offences per 1,000 Supervised Offenders on Federal Conditional Release

Note:The year 2017/18 is shown but not used in calculations or text because the number of convictions for violent offences will often fluctuate higher during the 12 to 18 months after a fiscal year ends because charges for violent offences often take that long to proceed through the courts.

Table 116. Rates of Conviction for Violent Offences per 1,000 Supervised Offenders on Federal Conditional Release by Offence Type

Note:The year 2017/18 is shown but not used in calculations or text because the number of convictions for violent offences will often fluctuate higher during the 12 to 18 months after a fiscal year ends because charges for violent offences often take that long to proceed through the courts.

Table 117. Rates of Conviction for Violent Offences per 1,000 Supervised Offenders on Federal Conditional Release by Indigenous and Race

Note: The year 2017/18 is shown but not used in calculations or text because the number of convictions for violent offences will often fluctuate higher during the 12 to 18 months after a fiscal year ends because charges for violent offences often take that long to proceed through the courts.

Table 118. Convictions for Violent Offences on Federal Conditional Release by Region

Note:The year 2017/18 is shown but not used in calculations or text because the number of convictions for violent offences will often fluctuate higher during the 12 to 18 months after a fiscal year ends because charges for violent offences often take that long to proceed through the courts.