CAEFS Submits Recommendations to Parliamentary Study on Conditional Releases

The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) has submitted a brief to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security as part of its study of conditional releases and the responsible federal organizations.

Drawing on CAEFS’ longstanding advocacy and direct work alongside federally sentenced women and gender-diverse people, our brief asserts that:

• No legislative changes to conditional release are necessary.
• Laws that divide victims from perpetrators misdescribe and endanger federally sentenced women and gender-diverse people, most of whom have experienced violence.
• Any legislative changes must include safeguards to protect the safety and privacy of people on release.
• Parole reform would worsen the barriers women already face.
• Reform must be grounded in evidence and demonstrated need.
• Reintegration, and the risk of its loss, for every person serving a sentence must remain central to this study.

The brief includes recommendations related to each of these assertions, with a summary of all recommendations provided at the conclusion of the submission.

You can read the full submission here.