Conditional Release and Performance – Detention

Official Title: Performance Monitoring Report 2018-2019, Conditional Release and Performance – Detention
From: Parole Board of Canada

Detention

Tables 133-141

Before an offender’s statutory release date, CSC can refer the case to the Board for a detention review if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the offender is likely to commit an offence causing death or serious harm to another person, a sexual offence involving a child or a serious drug offence before the expiration of the offender’s sentence. If the Board determines that the offender is likely to reoffend, then a detention order is issued, and the offender is detained.

• As of April 7, 2019, 191 offenders were detained (26 fewer than in 2017-18), 31 had a detention order but had not yet reached their statutory release dates (six fewer than in 2017-18) and 18 had had their one chance statutory release revoked and were subsequently detained (two less than in 2017-18).
• In 2018-19, the number of referrals for detention decreased 29% to 85 (from 119) when compared to 2017-18.
• The detention referral rate (ratio of detention referrals against the total offender population entitled to statutory release in a given year) remained stable in 2018-19.
• The number of offenders detained following a detention review decreased to 77 (-30%) compared to the previous year, while their proportion decreased to 91%. Seven offenders (8%) were released on one chance statutory release and one offender (1%) was released on statutory release following a detention review in 2018-19.
• In 2018-19, the Atlantic and Prairie regions reported the highest initial detention rates (100% and 97% respectively), while the Ontario region reported the lowest rate (79%), compared to the national average of 91%.
• In 2018-19, 95% of offenders serving sentences for sexual offences and 92% of offenders serving sentences for violent offences who were referred for detention were detained.
• Averaged over the last five years, the detention rate for Indigenous offenders was 93% compared to 96% for non-Indigenous offenders.
• Averaged over the last five years, 95% of male offenders referred for detention were detained, compared to 100% for women offenders.
• In 2018-19, the Board conducted 51 subsequent detention reviews and confirmed detention in 92% of cases, compared to 107 reviews in 2017-18 with a confirmation rate of 79%.
• In the last five years, the Board conducted 683 subsequent detention reviews, confirming detention in 92% of cases.

Definition: Offenders entitled to statutory release = number of offenders released from institutions on statutory release + number of offenders detained + number of offenders with detention ordered not past SR date + number of offenders with one chance SR revoked.