When facing serious charges, sometimes there is no way around imprisonment. Even with the best criminal lawyer in Winnipeg, some offences are too serious for you to avoid consequences altogether. It is best to know that you do have some other avenues to explore if this applies to you. If you have to serve some time in a local prison or jail, what do the conditions of parole look like in Canada? 

For more information on what you can expect from parole and if you qualify, here is a brief rundown: 

What is Parole? 

Sometimes referred to as a conditional release, parole basically means that you are out of confinement, but with set conditions. The National Parole Board reviews applications that are made by the inmates. The members of the board must consider each applicant to determine if they can safely be released back into society under certain conditions. Those conditions are designed to help reintegrate the prisoners back into society as law-abiding citizens. 

If you have a longer sentence, federal law dictates that offenders should be released on parole to serve the last one-third of their sentence in society. This is known as statutory release. While it does not go through the National Parole Board, this board can set conditions on that inmate’s release. 

When Can You Receive Parole? 

Not everyone is eligible to apply for parole. You must first serve at least one-third of your sentence to apply for full conditional release. On the other hand, you could apply for day parole just six months in advance of qualifying for full parole. 

Even with first-degree and second-degree murder charges, you might be eligible for parole. However, you do have to serve quite a bit of time first. Inmates charged with first-degree murder are not eligible for parole until they have served 25 years of their sentence. A person charged with second-degree murder must typically serve at least ten years of their sentence before being found eligible for parole. 

Those who receive a life sentence of any kind will be on parole supervision for their entire lives. 

Who Gets Parole? 

If you are serious about being released on parole, it’s important to have a plan. The National Parole Board will want to see how well you can be reintegrated back into society. They will be looking closely at your post-release plans, the severity of your initial crime, your behavior in prison, and any information given to them by officials in the court system like psychologists, police, and/or the victims themselves. 

Facing Your Criminal Charges

It can be daunting to face criminal charges that come with consequences like imprisonment. However, you should have hope that you may not be required to serve the full sentence. Many people are eligible for parole after a smaller portion of their sentence has been served. Make sure that you contact a top criminal attorney like Matthew Gould to help you win your case and minimize the consequences. Give him a call today to see how he can help you!