Glossary

A set of principles intended to guide the development of policies, programs and legislation related to victims of crime.

The following principles are intended to promote fair treatment of victims and should be reflected in federal/provincial/territorial laws, policies and procedures:

1. Victims of crime should be treated with courtesy, compassion, and respect.
2. The privacy of victims should be considered and respected to the greatest extent possible.
3. All reasonable measures should be taken to minimize inconvenience to victims.
4. The safety and security of victims should be considered at all stages of the criminal justice process and appropriate measures should be taken when necessary to protect victims from intimidation and retaliation.
5. Information should be provided to victims about the criminal justice system and the victim's role and opportunities to participate in criminal justice processes.
6. Victims should be given information, in accordance with prevailing law, policies, and procedures, about the status of the investigation; the scheduling, progress and final outcome of the proceedings; and the status of the offender in the correctional system.
7. Information should be provided to victims about available victim assistance services, other programs and assistance available to them, and means of obtaining financial reparation.
8. The views, concerns and representations of victims are an important consideration in criminal justice processes and should be considered in accordance with prevailing law, policies and procedures.
9. The needs, concerns and diversity of victims should be considered in the development and delivery of programs and services, and in related education and training.
10. Information should be provided to victims about available options to raise their concerns when they believe that these principles have not been followed.

For more information, seeCanadian Statement of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime, 2003.

The Canadian Victims Bill of Rights (CVBR) provides clear rights for victims of crime at the federal level and creates the following statutory rights for victims of crime:

• The Right to Information
• The Right to Participation
• The Right to Protection
• The Right to Restitution

An act of mercy which may be granted by Cabinet or the Governor General. It is only considered in very exceptional circumstances for deserving individuals who suffer excessive hardship as a result of a court imposed penalty, and where no other remedy exists under the law.

A report written by Correctional Service of Canada Parole Officers that indicates an offender's level of support while in custody and in the community. The Parole Board of Canada (PBC) uses this report information when making a decision about parole or other types of release from an institution.

Facilities (also called Halfway houses) contracted from outside agencies or organizations such as the John Howard Society or St. Leonard's Society to house federal offenders who are in the community on some type of release.

The release of an offender into the community under supervision and subject to specific conditions. Conditional release does not mean the sentence is shortened. Conditional release provides offenders an opportunity, under the supervision and assistance of a Parole Officer, to become contributing members of society, providing they abide by the conditions of their release. If the conditions are not met, the Parole Board has the power to revoke the release and return the offender to prison.

The Correctional Plan identifies the factors that led the offender into criminal behaviour are identified as well as areas in the offender's life that, if changed, can reduce the risk of re-offending. It serves as a basis to monitor the offender's progress throughout the sentence. It outlines and prioritizes the areas that must be addressed to reduce an offender's likelihood of re-offending and to prepare him or her for safe reintegration into society. The Correctional Plan includes certain restrictions within the institution and destinations in the event of a grant of a release such as work release or temporary absence as well as commitments to participate in programs such as job training and educational and treatment programs. Each Correctional Plan is different because it is tailored to the specific needs and risks of the individual offender.

Offenders are assigned to an institutional parole officer who will implement the offender's Correctional Plan, follow-up on their progress and assist them in preparing for their eventual safe reintegration into the community. Offenders must follow their Correctional Plan, and failure to do so reduces an offender's chances of being granted parole or other conditional releases.

CSC shares Correctional Plan information with victims using a Correctional Plan Progress Report (CPPR) which contains the most current information about the offender.  A CPPR is sent to the victim harmed by the offender when specific events occur in the offender’s sentence, if there is new information to report.  Victims must ask to receive CPPRs by contacting their Victim Services Officer directly or by indicating they are interested to receive via the Victims Portal. Victim Services Officers can explain to victims how and when CSC can make these reports available and can discuss how often victims would like to receive these reports. For example, there may be times when victims wish to receive an updated CPPR, when particular decisions in the offender’s case are being considered or before a scheduled parole hearing. 

The legislation that governs the corrections and parole system in Canada. The Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA) outlines the responsibilities of the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), the Parole Board of Canada (PBC), and the Office of the Correctional Investigator.

Requirements or conditions imposed by the court that the offender must adhere to as part of their sentence.

An Act respecting the Criminal Law, the Criminal Code for short, is federally enforced legislation that governs all criminal penalties that may be imposed under sovereign government authority for criminal justice offences such as sexual assaults, murders and theft. The Department of Justice holds the authority to draft, correct and revise legislation relating to the Criminal Code.

A criminal record is created every time a person is convicted of a criminal offence. It leaves a record of the offence and the conviction. These records can serve to justify harsher sentencing for new offences.

Not long ago, a criminal record would follow a person for the rest of his or her life. Now, it is possible to be pardoned, meaning that all federal departments and organizations that hold information regarding a specific sentence must keep this separate from other information and cannot disclose this information without the authorization of the Minister of Public Safety Canada.

A Crown prosecutor is a lawyer who is authorized to represent the Crown (i.e. the state) before all courts in the prosecution of offences.