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Section II: Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome

The NPB has one strategic outcome:

Strategic Outcome: Conditional release and pardon decisions and decision processes that safeguard Canadian communities

Program Activity by Strategic Outcome

The NPB program activities and priorities are designed to support continuous progress in achieving the strategic outcome. The following section describes the NPB’s program activities and identifies the expected result, performance indicators and targets for each of them. This section also explains how the NPB plans on meeting the expected results and presents the financial and non-financial resources that will be dedicated to each program activity.

The section will contain a discussion of plans surrounding the following Program Activities:

• Program Activity 1: Conditional Release Decisions
• Program Activity 2: Conditional Release Openness and Accountability
• Program Activity 3: Pardon Decisions / Clemency Recommendations

Program Activity 1: Conditional Release Decisions

2008-09 Financial Resources ($ thousands)			2008-09 Human Resources (FTEs)
Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending	Planned	Actual	Difference
$36,065	$40,789	$38,360	359	320	39

Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets	Performance Status	Performance Summary
Quality decisions on the timing and conditions of release that support the safe reintegration of offenders in the community.
Priority (1): Effective management of legislative responsibilities related to conditional release decision-making.	Outcomes of release on parole	High success rate on parole	Met all	Approximately 93% of parole releases do not result in a new offence
	Convictions for violent offences by parolees	Low re-conviction rate for violent offences while on parole	Met all	99% of parole releases do not result in a new violent offence
	Post-warrant expiry re-offending of offenders on full parole resulting in return to a federal penitentiary	Low re-conviction rate past warrant expiry date	Met all	9 in 10 offenders who reach warrant expiry on full parole do not return to a federal penitentiary
Priority (2): Strategic planning to prepare the NPB for response to government announcements to introduce amendments to the CCRA and sentencing practices.	Addressing policy issues, anticipated workload pressures, resource needs, and training requirements for Board members and staff	Successfully addressing required needs	Met all	The NPB continues to assess proposals for reform of the CCRA, regulatory changes (e.g., change to quorum),etc., and sentencing practices, including potential impacts on workloads and costs
	Renewed Vision	Successful completion of a new Vision document	Met all	Renewed Vision statement released February 200912
Priority (3): Improved information management in support of the NPB’s conditional release responsibilities through development and implementation of the renewal of the Board’s module of the Offender Management System (OMS).	Work toward a renewed offender management system	Continued identification of user needs and completion of acceptance testing for specific modules of the system	Met all	Modernization of NPB's OMS legacy system is well underway. File Management portion is in development while requirements are being finalized for the Case Management portion

Benefits for Canadians

The government has identified "safe and secure communities" as a key outcome area. Public safety is the Board's primary objective. Conditional release is based on the principle that gradual release to the community, in conjunction with effective programs and treatment, quality assessments of the risk of re-offending and effective community supervision enhances community safety. Information on post-warrant readmission on a federal sentence reinforces this theory, suggesting that the detailed process of case preparation and assessment used by the Board and CSC for parole decision-making is effective in identifying those offenders most likely to remain free from crime in the community.

Performance Analysis

Information on performance demonstrates that the Board achieved the priorities and commitments identified in its Plans and Priorities for 2008-09. In 2008-09, the Board completed 17,565 conditional release reviews for federal and provincial offenders.

Data continues to support that parole contributes to public safety. More than 93% of all parole releases do not result in a new offence, and 99% do not result in a new violent offence.

Information on re-offending after completion of sentence illustrates that 9 of 10 offenders who reach the end of their sentences on full parole do not return to a federal penitentiary.

The Board made progress on the development of a new automated system for managing and sharing conditional release information within the Board and with CSC. The Renewal Project is well underway, with the File Management portion in development while requirements are being finalized for the Case Management portion.

For more information, please access the Board’s Performance Monitoring Reports at:
http://www.npb-cnlc.gc.ca/rprts/rprt-eng.shtml.

Lessons Learned

In 2008-09, the NPB carried out a number of activities designed to support quality decision-making, including:

• presented findings of an evaluation of the Board’s orientation and training program for Board members and created an advisory committee to advance initiatives and address priorities.
• implementation of new policy for the use of video-conferencing technology to facilitate Board member involvement in hearings.

Program Activity 2: Conditional Release Openness and Accountability

2008-09 Financial Resources ($ thousands)			2008-09 Human Resources (FTEs)
Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending	Planned	Actual	Difference
$8,042	$9,023	$7,095	68	65	3

Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets	Performance Status	Performance Summary
Conditional release processes which reflect the intent of the CCRA respecting openness and accountability
Priority (1): Effective management of legislative responsibilities related to open and accountable conditional release processes.	Timeliness and quality of information and assistance measured through surveys of users and stakeholders	Increased accessibility to services for victims	Met all	In 2008-09, the Board had 20,000 contacts with victims The Board had 1,904 observers at its hearings in 2008-09 (62% increase over the last five years) Victims made 192 presentations at 112 hearings Past victim surveys indicate high satisfaction with the quality and timeliness of information provided by NPB staff
		Development of a victim questionnaire in 2010-11	Exceeded	A new joint NPB/CSC victim questionnaire was completed during 2008-09 and results will be available shortly
Priority (2): Introduction of measures to provide victims with a more effective voice in conditional release processes.	Information and assistance provided to victims	Improved interpretation services for victims at NPB hearings	Met all	Interpretation services provided for victims in each region
		Improved voice amplification equipment in hearing rooms	Met all	New voice amplification equipment and systems have been installed
		Increased community outreach	Met all	Increased community outreach (particular focus on Northern and Aboriginal Communities)
		Effective training for NPB staff to ensure consistency in NPB processes and policies	Met all	Training for regional communications officers completed
		Examine use of video-conferencing with victims	Met all	Developed guidelines on the use of video-conferencing and began training in regions
		Partner with stakeholders and other federal departments working with victims	Met all	Advisory Committee developed; continued work with CSC, Federal Ombudsman for Victims, and other stakeholder organizations

Benefits for Canadians

This program activity is designed to ensure that the Board operates in an open and accountable manner, consistent with the provisions of the CCRA and that it shares information effectively in support of public safety. Work in this area recognizes that the NPB operates in a difficult environment in which timely sharing of accurate information is fundamental to effective partnership and public trust.

The CCRA requires the Board to provide information for victims of crime, allow observers at its hearings and provide access to its decisions through a registry of decisions.

Performance Analysis

The openness and accountability provisions of the CCRA continue to present important challenges for the Board with respect to: sharing information with victims of crime; provision of information and assistance for those who wish to observe NPB hearings or gain access to the Board's registry of decisions; and delivery of a program of public information. Workloads in these areas have grown exponentially since introduction of the CCRA in 1992. In 2008-09, for example, the Board had more than 20,000 contacts with victims. As with conditional release decision-making, the need for quality program delivery in this area is critical, given its implications for public safety and public confidence in corrections and conditional release. Intense public scrutiny and extensive media interest in this area make program effectiveness crucial.

Most of the 20,000 contacts were with victims of violence, such as sexual assault or the murder of a family member. The results of a joint NPB/CSC questionnaire of victims’ services conducted in the summer of 2009 will be available shortly. A similar survey conducted with victims in 2003 found the majority were satisfied with the quality and timeliness of the information provided by NPB staff.

The Board had 1,904 observers at its hearings in 2008-09, reflecting a 62% increase over the last five years and in 2008-09, victims made 192 presentations at 112 hearings. Most of these were family members of victims of murder (47%) or manslaughter (15%). Most of the presentations (94%) were made in person, while the rest were on either audio or video tape, or by video or teleconference.

The CCRA permits access to specific decisions and to decisions for research purposes through the Board’s registry of decisions. For more information, please see http://www.npb-cnlc.gc.ca/infocntr/factsh/registr-eng.shtml/.

In 2008-09, the Board released over 6,100 decisions from the registry. Victims were the most frequent requestors of decisions (approximately 52%), followed by the media (approximately 32%).

When an offender on conditional release is charged with a serious violent offence in the community, the NPB may conduct a National Joint Board of Investigation with CSC. One Board of Investigation was conducted in 2008-09.

Lessons Learned

The Board developed guidelines on the use of videoconferencing technology to enhance access by victims to NPB hearings and began training the regional offices on its use. Effective progress also requires that the NPB work in partnership with CSC to ensure that videoconferencing equipment is available in hearing rooms and in various sites in the community to support productive use of this technology.

Program Activity 3: Pardons Decisions and Clemency Recommendations

2008-09 Financial Resources ($ thousands)			2008-09 Human Resources (FTEs)
Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending	Planned	Actual	Difference
$1,804	$3,543	$3,079	28	41	(13)

Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets	Performance Status	Performance Summary
Priority (1) Effective management of legislative responsibilities related to the processing of pardon applications.	Effective management of the pardons process	Elimination of pardons application backlog	Met all	Backlog was eliminated through a temporary shift of resources from the Conditional Release program area
		Development of service standards for pardons application processing	Met all	Service standards were developed in anticipation of an increase to the user fee
	Program sustainability	Policy refinement, process streamlining, productive use of technology.	Met all	Policy, process and use of technology were reviewed and revised
	Percentage of pardons revoked annually	High success rate once pardoned	Met all	96% of all pardons awarded remain in force
	Average time required to process pardon applications	Decrease pardon processing time	Met all	In 2008-09, 40,428 pardon applications were processed. The average process time was 3.5 months (significant decrease from previous years)

Benefits for Canadians

A pardon is a formal attempt to remove the stigma of a criminal record for people found guilty of a federal offence and who, after satisfying their sentence and a specified waiting period, have shown themselves to be responsible citizens.

By providing quality pardon decisions and clemency recommendations, this program activity is designed to support safe and secure communities through rehabilitation and community reintegration.

The pardons program is an important part of the NPB’s mandate. The benefits of the program include:

• ensuring careful consideration is given to issues of public safety;
• providing an opportunity for pardon recipients to contribute to their communities as law-abiding citizens;
• those who receive a pardon have increased opportunities for employment and housing;
• most individuals (over 96%) who receive a pardon remain crime free, demonstrating the value of a pardon as a long-term measure for community reintegration.

Performance Analysis

The Board used to receive 15,000 to 20,000 pardon applications per year; however in 2008-09 the number of applications rose to 36,000. The impact of this increase on workload is substantial, and led to a backlog of applications in 2007. To address this backlog, the Board shifted resources on a temporary basis from the Conditional Release program to the Pardons program. As well, an action plan was developed to enhance productivity in the short-term and to establish sustainability for the pardon program in the long-term. This plan calls for a wide range of improvements, including: policy refinement; technological advancements; process streamlining; creation of a team to eliminate the backlog of the applications; establishment of service standards for application processing; and increasing the user fee to align it with current operational and program realities.

The NPB charges a $50.00 user fee for the processing of pardon applications and has access to 70% of revenues collected. The RCMP has access to 30% of user fees collected. These fees do not represent the full cost of a pardon. The fee was set at $50.00 so as not to serve as an impediment for Canadians who wish to benefit from a pardon. In response to the growing need to process more pardons and to make the Pardon program sustainable, the Board has proposed an increase to the pardon fee and hopes to implement this change in 2009-10.

For more information, please access the Board’s Performance Monitoring Reports at:
http://www.npb-cnlc.gc.ca/rprts/rprt-eng.shtml.

Lessons Learned

The Board recently established service standards for processing pardon applications. In conformity with s. 4 of the User Fees Act, the Board created these standards before proposing to increase its fee for a pardon application. The Board has attempted to meet these service standards over the last year; however, due to the backlog in the processing of pardon applications, the Board was only able to meet the new standards by shifting resources between the conditional release and the pardons program. This shift in funding is, however, unsustainable – thus the need for an increase in the fee for a pardon application.

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