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Mar 30, 2018 · In this guest, Ruth Roberts of Bonn Law in Quinte, Ontario explains some essential tips for people about to spend some time in jail after being sentenced in both Provincial and Federal institutions in Ontario.
- Court Procedures
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- Frequently Asked Questions
What do you do if you are charged with trafficking or...
- Youth Crime (Ycja)
#56: David Whitten: Don’t go in with a heavy hand In this...
- Provincial Offences Act
Lawyers for Provincial Offences Act and Regulatory Offences....
- Court Procedures
- Introduction
- Admission and Discharge
- Court, Immigration and Legal Information
- Human Rights
- Inmate Complaints
- Inmate Money and Payments
- Inmate Privileges
- Inmate Programs
- Inmate Rights
- Inmate Rules and Discipline
The purpose of this guide is to provide you with general information on the rules, routines, and services available to you while you are an inmate in a provincial, adult correctional institution. If you have a Human Rights Code related characteristic or need that impacts your ability to read or understand the information in this guide (language bar...
Classification
Classification is an ongoing process that begins when you’re admitted and ends when your sentence has been legally satisfied. The goal is to place you in the correctional setting that most appropriately meets security risk assessment levels and individual programming needs. Upon admission, institutional staff will interview you to determine your security level. Every inmate’s security level is rated individually using a security assessment or tool. Security level assessments may change throug...
Discharge planning and community reintegration
Discharge planning and community reintegration will help you prepare for release from custody and support your return to the community. Within the first 72 hours of your admission to the institution, a staff member will meet with you to complete a community reintegration checklist to determine your needs and risks. Staff will offer you assistance with discharge planning and community reintegration if you consent to participate. If you require referrals to services in the community, you will b...
Destination on release
When you are released, staff responsible for discharge planning and community reintegration will help you with your travel plans and transportation needs. You may be provided with a bus ticket if you need it to get to your destination. You may also speak with health care staff about any medication that you require upon release. If you are released on parole, the Ontario Parole Board must approve your travel plans before you leave the institution. The board must also approve any changes in you...
Appeals
If you are considering appealing your conviction or sentence, you should consult a lawyer as soon as possible to get information about the appeal process. The appeal period for criminal offences is typically 30 days from the date of conviction or sentence. The appeal period for provincial offences is generally 15 days from the date of conviction or sentence. If you decide to appeal your conviction or sentence, you should put in an Inmate Request Form to make sure your appeal is filed on time.
Bail
Only the Justice of the Peace can decide if your bail conditions have been met. You should review issues related to your bail with your lawyer. If you can meet the conditions of your bail, you or your lawyer can ask to see a Justice of the Peace while you are at court. Once the conditions are met, the Justice of the Peace may advise the institution that you can be released. Family members, relatives, friends, or community supports may also help you meet your bail conditions. You may use the c...
Canadian Red Cross
Refugee claimants may contact the Canadian Red Cross (First Contact Program) at Toll-free: 0-866-902-4993. This number is toll free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Services are offered in several languages. This number may help you to receive support as follows: 1. help with contacting your family members 2. health care 3. housing 4. legal referrals 5. referrals to shelters 6. social services 7. the refugee determination process 8. other available services and information on how...
The Ontario Human Rights Code
The Ontario Human Rights Code(the Code) is a provincial law that gives every person equal rights and opportunities without discrimination in certain areas such as employment, housing and services. The Code aims to protect each person’s human rights and prevent discrimination and harassment based on one or more of the following Code protected grounds: 1. age 2. ancestry 3. colour 4. citizenship 5. creed 6. disability 7. ethnic origin 8. place of origin 9. family status 10. gender identity 11....
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Inmates also have rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the Charter). The Charter forms part of the Constitution of Canada. The Charter protects a number of rights and freedoms, including fundamental freedoms, democratic rights, mobility rights, equality rights and legal rights that may be important to you. For example, among other protections, under the Charter, everyone has the right to: 1. life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof...
Client Conflict Resolution Unit
The Client Conflict Resolution Line (CCRL) responds to human rights complaints from inmates. If you believe that you have been discriminated against or harassed because of any of the prohibited human rights grounds (age, ancestry, colour, citizenship, creed, disability, ethnic origin, place of origin, family status, gender identity, gender expression, martial status, race, sex, sexual orientation), you can call the CCRLto make a complaint. Client Complaint Resolution Line Toll-free: 1-866-535...
Complaints about the institution
If you have a problem, concern or complaint about the institution or its rules, there are options available to you. You may want to consider trying to resolve your problem within the institution as a first step.
Complaints against police
If you are unhappy with the services or conduct of an individual police officer or police service, there is a process for formal complaints. There are a few different options to file a complaint depending on the police service involved and/or the nature of complaint. These options are as follows:
Complaints to the Ombudsman of Ontario
The Ontario Ombudsman is an independent and impartial Officer of the Legislature who resolves complaints about government and public sector bodies, including complaints that relate to the care and custody of inmates. 1. Staff can provide you with a pre-addressed, confidential envelope to contact the Ombudsman’s Office by mail if you wish to put your concern in writing. Once completed, you seal the letter and hand it back to a staff member. Letters will be addressed to the Office of the Ombuds...
Family support orders
Payments to family support orders must be processed through your trust account. If you are serving a sentence for not making court ordered payments for family support, this may impact your ability to earn remission. Typically, to be released before the date the sentence ends you must pay the entire amount you owe. Consult your lawyer if you have any questions about this process.
Fines
If you are brought to an institution or detention centre for not paying a fine, you may pay the full amount when you arrive. You may also pay the amount owing at any time. Let staff know if you want to pay a fine. If you don’t have enough money to pay the fine yourself, family, friends, or other people you know in the community may pay it for you. You may use the collect pay telephones or put in an Inmate Request Form to contact them. Fines can only be paid by cash, bank or postal money order...
Trust accounts
The superintendent holds the money (cash only) you had on admission in a trust account for you. Money you receive while in an institution is added to this account. You can use the money in your trust account to buy items from the canteen and phone services (see Canteensection). Money from your trust account can also be released to a family member or visitor with your signed approval. Money will not be taken from your trust account without your approval. You cannot transfer money from your acc...
Canteen
You may use money from your trust account to buy canteen items. You will have the opportunity to buy canteen items once a week. You are allowed to spend up to $60 each week. Canteen items are approved products that are available for purchase if you wish to supplement or add to the products that are provided by the institution at no cost. Canteen items include stationary, books, puzzles, beauty aids, etc.Canteen items have fees and applicable taxes. For a list of the canteen items for sale, pl...
Direct supervision units
Direct supervision units increase safety for you, other inmates, staff and volunteers. The unit officer is in the unit at all times for all daily routines. There is soft seating, more access to yard and T.V. and more access to programs. Direct supervision units are not available in every institution.
Earned remission
Inmates serving a sentence of incarceration at a provincial adult institution can accumulate a specific number of days to use as credit to reduce their time spent in custody. This is referred to as earned remission. If you are serving a sentence, you can be credited with up to 15 days for each month served for demonstrating good behaviour by following institutional rules.
Correctional Services offers a variety of programs to inmates. For a list of the programs available at your institution, you may ask a staff member. If you would like to attend a program, would like more information about a program, or would like to be removed from the program you are in, please complete an Inmate Request Form. The programs offered...
Correspondence and mail
On admission, you are given paper and an envelope to send one letter for free. Every week after that, you will receive more paper to send two letters at no cost. If you want to write more than two letters a week, you must buy the extra writing paper, envelopes and stamps through the canteen order process. There is no limit on the number of letters you may receive but the superintendent may place a limit of the number of letters you may keep in your cell. Extra letters may be placed in your pr...
Deaf, deafened and hard of hearing inmates
If you are deaf, deafened or have difficulty hearing, you should let the staff know. Accommodations will be arranged to help you. If you use sign language, the Superintendent can find staff or volunteers who sign to answer your questions and can help you with information about trial, parole hearing, misconduct interview, programming, or to understand what is being communicated to you. The superintendent can also obtain a TTY telephone to allow you to make toll free or collect calls to people...
Food services
You will be provided with three nutritionally balanced meals each day. An evening beverage or snack may also be provided. Special brunch meals or other food service options may be provided on weekends and holidays.
Behaviour and expectations
Upon admission, you will receive a handout that outlines the rules and expectations that you must follow and explains what happens if you break the rules or receive a misconduct. You are expected to follow the rules of the institution, listen to, and obey the instructions of staff. You are also expected to respect the dignity and rights of others, including other inmates, staff, and visitors. If you do not follow the rules, you may be placed on misconduct. For a complete list of behaviours wh...
Contraband
Contraband is any property that is in an inmate’s possession that was not issued by the institution. It could also be an item issued by the institution but is: 1. used for a purpose other than that for which it was issued 2. possessed in a quantity in excess of what was issued 3. possessed in an area other than where it belongs Any personal property not surrendered during the admission process, which is found by staff after the completion of the admission process, will be deemed to be contrab...
Personal property and cash
You cannot give cash or personal property to another inmate while you are in a correctional services facility without the written permission of the superintendent. The institution will usually store only the property you are admitted with. You must ask the superintendent's permission before any other property may be brought in for you. If you have too much property, the staff can ask you to have some of it picked up by relatives, friends, or supports in the community. When you are released, y...
Learn about the correctional process, visit an offender, resources for families of offenders through the Canadian Families and Corrections Network (CFCN).
Learn about the different types of provincial adult correctional facilities in Ontario, where they’re located, visiting hours and contact information.
Dec 18, 2023 · Preparing for jail involves finding out about how things work in your jail and getting in the right state of mind. Find out how to deposit money into your jail account so you can spend money in the commissary once you’re inside.
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Apr 15, 2021 · The purpose of this post is to tell you about 5 important things you need to know before you go to jail. Covid-19 related quarantine protocols for provincial and federal institutions; You will face a 2-week quarantine in a unit designated for that purpose within the prison when you are first placed.
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Apr 24, 2014 · The correctional process begins at sentencing. From the time an offender is initially assessed, through case management and to supervision in the community, there is a team of dedicated professionals working closely with the offender.
