National Parole Board – Kingston, ON

Parole Board of Canada: Ontario Region

The National Parole Board (officially the Parole Board of Canada or PBC) in Kingston serves as the regional headquarters for the Ontario and Nunavut region. Located at 516 O’Connor Drive, this office functions as an independent administrative tribunal within the Public Safety Canada portfolio. The Board’s primary mandate is to make conditional release decisions for offenders serving sentences of two years or more in federal penitentiaries. By assessing the risk an offender poses to the community, the Board aims to contribute to the protection of society while facilitating the safe and timely reintegration of offenders as law-abiding citizens. This regional office manages cases across the province, coordinating hearings and maintaining records.

Key Functions and Responsibilities

The Kingston office handles a variety of critical administrative and decision-making tasks:

• Conditional Release Decisions: Board members review cases to grant, deny, or revoke parole (both day parole and full parole) based on thorough risk assessments and legislative criteria.
• Record Suspensions (Pardons): The office provides information and processes applications for record suspensions, allowing individuals who have completed their sentences and demonstrated law-abiding behavior to have their criminal records kept separate from other criminal records.
• Victim Services: The PBC is committed to respecting the rights of victims. This office allows victims to submit statements, observe hearings, and receive information about the offender’s status, ensuring their voices are heard in the process.
• Clemency and Reviews: The Board also makes recommendations on the Royal Prerogative of Mercy and conducts appeal reviews of conditional release decisions.

Procedural Information

While the Board operates independently, it works closely with the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC). Hearings are often conducted directly at correctional institutions or via video conferencing managed by this regional hub. The office at O’Connor Drive is primarily administrative, handling file management, scheduling, and public inquiries. It is not a reporting centre for parolees; supervision is managed by CSC parole officers. The facility adheres to federal privacy and security standards, ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive case files. 🇨🇦👮