Parole

Conditional release

A conditional release is when you are released from custody to serve part of your sentence in the community, under supervision and under certain conditions. A conditional release does not mean your sentence is shortened. It allows you to be released from custody for such things as participating in community service work, receiving counselling or medical treatment or to serve the remainder of your sentence in the community, under supervision. 

Conditional releases include day or full parole, temporary absence or statutory release. To learn more, visit Types of Releases (Parole Board of Canada).

The Parole Board of Canada decides whether you will be granted a conditional release. An exception is statutory release, which under most circumstances, is automatically granted after you have served two-thirds of your sentence. The board’s main consideration is the protection of the public.

Parole

Parole is a type of conditional release. It gives you the opportunity to serve part of your sentence in the community, under supervision and under certain conditions. All individuals must be considered for a conditional release when being held in a correctional centre. 

The Correctional Service of Canada is responsible for supervising provincial offenders (serving sentences in a provincial correctional centre) and federal offenders (serving sentences in a federal correctional centre) while they are on parole.

The Parole Board of Canada decides whether provincial and federal offenders should be released on parole. 

See Purpose of Parole for more information.