Corrections and Conditional Release Act (S.C. 1992, c. 20)

Marginal note:Temporary absences may be approved — exception

• 17.1 (1) The Parole Board of Canada may authorize the temporary absence of an inmate who is serving a sentence of imprisonment for life imposed as a minimum punishment and is eligible for day parole if the inmate is escorted by a staff member or other person authorized by the institutional head and the Parole Board of Canada is of the opinion that

  • (a) the inmate will not, by reoffending, present an undue risk to society during an absence authorized under this section;

  • (b) it is desirable for the inmate to be absent from the penitentiary for administrative reasons, community service, family contact, including parental responsibilities, personal development for rehabilitative purposes or compassionate reasons;

  • (c) the inmate’s behaviour while under sentence does not preclude authorizing the absence; and

  • (d) a structured plan for the absence has been prepared.

  The temporary absence may be for a period of not more than 15 days.

• Marginal note:Subsequent temporary absence

  (2) If the Parole Board of Canada authorizes the temporary absence of an inmate under subsection (1) for community service, family contact, including parental responsibilities, or personal development for rehabilitative purposes and the temporary absence is not cancelled because the inmate has breached a condition, the institutional head may authorize that inmate’s subsequent temporary absences with escort if the institutional head is of the opinion that the criteria set out in paragraphs (1)(a) to (d) are met.

• Marginal note:Subsequent temporary absence — Parole Board

  (3) If a temporary absence authorized by the institutional head is cancelled because the inmate breached a condition in relation to it, the inmate’s subsequent temporary absence may be authorized only by the Parole Board of Canada.

• Marginal note:Conditions

  (4) The Parole Board of Canada or the institutional head, as the case may be, may impose, in relation to a temporary absence that it authorizes, any condition that it considers reasonable and necessary in order to protect society.

• Marginal note:Cancellation and reasons

  (5) The institutional head may cancel a temporary absence that is authorized under this section either before or after its commencement and shall give the inmate written reasons for doing so.

• Marginal note:Authorization or refusal and reasons

  (6) The Parole Board of Canada or the institutional head, as the case may be, shall give the inmate written reasons for authorizing or refusing a temporary absence.