What to read after Accelerated Parole Review [electronic Resource] : Were the Objectives Met??

The accelerated parole review (APR) provisions of the Corrections & Conditional Release Act provide offenders with the opportunity for a National Parole Board review without the need for a hearing, provided that the offender meets the APR criteria of the Act. This report presents a study designed to provide answers to seven questions related to APR: whether APR cases are properly identified and referred as per the Act; whether those eligible for APR are being released at their parole eligibility date; whether APR has reduced the length of incarceration for non-violent first-time federal offenders; the rate at which those released following accelerated parole recidivate, compared to other offenders; whether the more focused criteria for APR result in the release of offenders who may have a high risk of reoffending but a low risk of reoffending violently; whether APR has resulted in a decrease in the use of institutional program resources by low-risk non-violent offenders; and whether APR has changed the work of Correctional Services Canada and the National Parole Board in reviewing low-risk cases. The study also investigates the criteria used to select offenders for APR.