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Section II - Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome

Strategic Outcome

The Parole Board of Canada has a single strategic outcome:

Conditional release and pardon decisions and decision processes that safeguard Canadian communities.

Program Activity by Strategic Outcome

PBC program activities and priorities are designed to support continuous progress in achieving the strategic outcome. To support this outcome, PBC has four program activities:

• Conditional release decisions;
• Conditional release openness and accountability;
• Pardon decisions / clemency recommendations; and,
• Internal services.

The following section describes the PBC's program activities and identifies the expected results, performance indicators and targets for each of them. This section also explains how the PBC plans on meeting the expected results and presents the financial and non-financial resources that will be dedicated to each activity.

Program Activity 1.1: Conditional Release Decisions

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ thousands)
2011-12		2012-13		2013-14
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
352	36,401	356	38,171	356	35,774

Program Activity Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets[9]
Quality conditional release decisions that contribute to public safety	Multi-year information on the number and % releases on parole that result in a new offence or a new violent offence	Zero (0) re-offending by parolees prior to warrant expiry
	Multi-year information on the number and % of offenders who complete their sentence on full parole and do not re-offend and return to a federal penitentiary	Zero re-offending after warrant expiry by offenders who reach the end of their sentence on full parole

Program Activity Description and Benefits to Canadians: 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. This program activity supports public safety by providing quality decisions on the timing and conditions of release of offenders into the community. Through this program activity, PBC staff provide timely, and accurate information for Board member decision-making, and develop effective training and policies that are essential tools for quality risk assessment and decision-making. Effectiveness is assessed through monitoring of the outcomes of release on parole. This program activity is directly supported by the following priorities identified for 2011-12:

• Effectively fulfilling legislative responsibilities related to quality conditional release decision-making;
• Strengthening stakeholder and community partnerships;
• Pursuing strategic excellence in PBC governance; and,
• Investing in our people.

Program Activity 1.2: Conditional Release Openness and Accountability

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ thousands)
2011-12		2012-13		2013-14
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
66	6,418	66	6,501	66	6,585

Program Activity Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets
Conditional release processes that ensure that the PBC operates in an open and accountable manner, consistent with the CCRA	Average time required to respond to: requests for information and assistance from victims, requests to observe hearings; and requests for access to PBC's decision registry	Response to requests for information and assistance within 15 working days, on average
	Levels of satisfaction of victims, observers, and those who seek access to the decision registry with quality and timeliness of information and assistance provided by PBC	90% rate of client satisfaction[10]

Program Activity Description and Benefits to Canadians: This program activity ensures that the PBC operates in an open and accountable manner, consistent with the provisions of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act. This program activity consists of the provision of information for victims of crime; assistance for observers at hearings and those who seek access to the Board's registry of decisions; encouragement of citizen engagement; and performance monitoring and reporting on the release process. Results for this program activity are assessed by monitoring the timeliness of information shared and by selected surveys of those who receive information and assistance from the PBC. Work in this area recognizes that the PBC operates in a difficult environment in which timely sharing of accurate information is fundamental for effective partnership and public trust.

This program activity is supported directly by PBC's priorities for:

• Effectively fulfilling legislative responsibilities related to open and accountable conditional release processes;
• Strengthening stakeholder and community partnerships;
• Improving information services for victims;
• Pursuing strategic excellence in PBC governance; and,
• Investing in our people.

Program Activity 1.3: Pardon Decisions / Clemency Recommendations

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ thousands)
2011-12		2012-13		2013-14
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
24	1,218	24	1,218	24	1,218

Program Activity Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets[11]
Quality pardon decisions that support rehabilitation and community reintegration	The numbers and rates of revocation/cessation of pardons	96% of all pardons awarded remain in force
	The average time required to process pardon applications for cases involving summary convictions and convictions for indictable offences	Adherence to established service standards for processing pardon applications
Quality clemency assessments and recommendations	The number of recommendations overall making their way to the Executive Branch from the number of requests received	Adherence to detailed collection and analysis of all relevant data
		Presentation of sound and reasoned recommendations to the Executive Branch

Program Activity Description and Benefits to Canadians: A pardon is designed to recognize the successful reintegration of an individual into society. It 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 law abiding citizens. Through this program activity, the PBC screens applications for eligibility and completeness, collects information for decision-making and develops policy to guide decision processes. The results of this program are assessed through ongoing review of the average time required to process pardon applications, and the rates of revocation of pardons granted. This program activity is supported by the following priorities:

• Effectively fulfilling legislative responsibilities related to the processing of pardon applications and clemency requests;
• Pursuing strategic excellence in PBC governance; and,
• Investing in our people.

This program activity is designed to support rehabilitation and community reintegration by providing quality pardon decisions. 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, housing, insurance, and travel-, allowing them to generate revenue, capital and contribute to economic growth; and,
• 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.

The Royal Prerogative of Mercy (RPM) or Clemency is a largely unfettered, discretionary power vested in the Office of the Governor General by virtue of the Letters Patent and the Governor in Council, under sections 748, 748.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada, who may apply exceptional remedies under exceptional circumstances to deserving cases.

The benefits of the program include:

• Addresses instances of substantial injustice; and,
• Addresses instances of undue hardship.

Program Activity 1.4: Internal Services

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ thousands)
2011-12		2012-13		2013-14
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
39	5,198	39	5,284	39	5,336

Program Activity Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets
Efficient and effective internal services that support quality program delivery	Services provided meet standards set under Government-wide policies as well as Management Accountability Framework (MAF) expectations	To meet or surpass government standards related to management capacity and practices as outlined and assessed through the Management Accountability Framework

Program Activity Description and Benefits to Canadians: This program activity includes the provision of financial, human resource, administration, security and modern management services and provides the basic operational services that enable the Board to function while ensuring compliance to new and existing central agency policies. This program activity is supported by the following priorities:

• Pursuing strategic excellence in PBC governance; and,
• Investing in our people.

Internal Services benefits Canadians by enabling the Board to deliver its program activities. Internal Services strives to:

• Ensure that the Board's governance structure facilitates the most effective and flexible decision making possible;
• Get PBC's messages out to target audiences in an effective manner;
• Provide the right human and financial resources to advance the Board's key and ongoing priorities;
• Generate the most effective, results-based planning to ensure logic and cohesion in all PBC activities;
• Conduct reviews, monitoring and investigations to ensure that operations are transparent and accountable;
• Ensure that the technological tools that are essential to the Board's operations are in place; and,
• Maintain a culture of continuous innovation and improvement.

Reporting internal services through a common government-wide approach to planning, designing, budgeting, reporting and communicating internal services allows Canadians to see the full cost and proportion of resources spent in the Board and across the federal government for support activities.

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