Release from custody

This section provides information about what happens when you are released from custody.

Probation

You may be put on probation as part of your sentence or after you have been released from custody. When you are on probation, you are supervised in the community by a probation officer for a certain time period.

Parole

You may be released during your sentence on the condition that you follow certain rules. This is called conditional release. You may be granted parole, which means you could serve part (the remainder) of your sentence in the community.  A parole officer will supervise and support you while you are on parole. The Parole Board of Canada is responsible for making decisions about parole. To learn more, please visit Parole.

Earned remission

When you are serving a sentence in a provincial correctional centre, your time in custody might be reduced by as much as one-third of your sentence if your behaviour is good. This is called earned remission. If you do not follow the rules and regulations while in custody, you can lose earned remission, resulting in you serving your full sentence. 

Statutory release

When you are serving a sentence in a federal correctional centre, in most cases, you must be automatically released from custody to serve the last third of your sentence in the community. You are released whether or not you have received or requested parole. This is referred to as statutory release. Visit Statutory Release to learn more.