FORUM on Corrections Research

Case management preparation for release and day parole outcome (R-63, 1998)

Brian A. Grant, and Marlo Gal

The report addresses the impact of the requirement in the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA), 1992, that day parole be used to prepare offenders for full parole and statutory release. This study also provides a description of the planning process used to prepare offenders for day parole and activities pursued during the day parole period, which facilitate safe reintegration. The report presents analyses of the relationship between the various aspects of institutional preparation and day parole outcomes. In addition, a two year follow up comparingfull release outcome for offenders who did not complete their day parole to offenders who completed day parole is presented.

This study also examined what, if any impact limiting the purpose of day parole had for the current use of day parole. The introduction of the CCRAlimited the scope of the purpose of day parole by requiring it to be preparation for full parole or statutory release. However, this appeared to be the purpose of day parole even before the CCRA. Examination of activities pursued on day parole pre-CCRA and post-CCRAreveals that there is a great deal of similarity in terms of preparation for full release.

Results of the two-year outcome indicated that the factors associated with outcome on day parole were also influential in the two-year follow up period. Offenders with no previous offences were less likely to be readmitted and when readmitted, were readmitted for technical violations.

The report suggests day parole is an effective program for assisting offenders in their reintegration into society. In part, this is due to the recommended activities (community programs/work) that the offenders participate in while on day parole. These activities in conjunction with community supervision facilitate re-adjustment to community life and subsequently a successful reintegration into society. Support for this comes from the fact that offenders who participated in recommended activities were not only more successful on day parole but more successful on subsequent releases as well.

Research has demonstrated that offenders who successfully completed day parole had more positive outcome on subsequent releases. Their finding was replicated in this study. Together, these results suggest that day parole is an effective way to manage low-risk offenders in the community early in their sentence and high-risk offenders later in their sentence without posing a threat to the community.