Important Role of Volunteers within
Federal Corrections in Canada

Volunteers in Canada
In 2013, 12.7 million Canadians (or 44% of the population) participated in someform of volunteer work.
Volunteers devoted about 1.96
million hours which is equivalent
to 1 million full time jobs.
On average volunteers contributed
154 hours per year.
Younger seniors contributed
the highest average hours 231 hours per year.
Women were slightly more likely to volunteer than men (45% versus 42%).

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Volunteers in the Federal
Correctional System in Canada• Volunteers provide a very strong network of support within
Canada’s correctional system in many ways.
•They are important to bridging the gap between the institution
and the community, and enable former offenders to interact
with the broader community.

•Our volunteers range in age and experience from university
students to retired seniors, and often include former offenders
who have returned to the community and want to give back byhelping support their peers.
3Multifaceted Roles•

Within our federal prisons and parole system, volunteers areinvolved in many different types of programs and activities.
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recreational activities
spiritual support through chaplaincy
classroom and workshop instruction
arranging and participating in social events
book clubs, and tutoring
supporting substance abuse programming
providing cultural activities
providing citizen escorts

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Multifaceted Roles• In addition to individual volunteers, there are numerous nationaland regional organizations and agencies comprised of volunteers
that provide organized advice and support to the federal
correctional system.
• These include community organizations such as the National
Associations Active in Criminal Justice (a coalition of 22 not-forprofit national organizations), John Howard Society, Elizabeth
Frye Society, Salvation Army, the St. Leonard's Society and manyothers.
• Many of these organization run their own volunteer programs tosupport their in-house services for offenders.
5Citizen Advisory Committees (CACs)• Citizen Advisory Committees (CACs) started in 1965 in federal Canadian institutions.
• CACs are voluntary, independent, citizen-based committees that bring a public andcommunity perspective to federal corrections.
• Their role includes:• Providing advice on the implementation and development of correctional facilities
and programs;• Acting as impartial observers to the day-to-day operations;• And liaising with CSC and communities to raise awareness, understanding, andsupport for the correctional process.
•In 1992, the role of CACs were deemed important enough that they were entrenched in
the federal correctional legislation.

•

Currently there are 81 Citizen Advisory Committees in all prisons and parole districts
across Canada involving about 400 citizen volunteers.

63Ethnocultural Advisory Committees• Involve persons from various ethnocultural backgrounds and/orexperience in the area of ethnoculturalism.
• Provide advice, support and expertise on ethnocultural issues
impacting offenders including:• assisting institutions in providing specialized cultural activities
to staff and offenders;• addressing offender spiritual needs;• assisting offenders in preparing for their parole;• facilitate community involvement in mentoring offenders
upon their return to the community; and• helping offenders find employment and or accommodationsin their community.
7Victim Advisory Committees
Regional Victim Advisory Committees (RVAC)• Advisory committees made up of victims of crime who volunteer
their time to both the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) andthe Parole Board of Canada (PBC).
• Provide input and advice to CSC and PBC regionally, on current
and existing service delivery, policy, communications and emerging
issues for the organizations.

PBC Committee on Victims• National committee that provides insight and information to theChairperson on matters of policy and programs.
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Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA)•The concept of CoSa began in June of 1994 through the actions of a
Mennonite pastor who befriended a mentally delayed, repeat sex offender who
had very few community supports.

•The pastor and some of his parishioners decided to form a support group (orcircle) that would meet with him regularly, to assist with his daily life and hisreintegration.

•Through the support of this group, this offender remained in the community
crime free for 12 years before passing away in 2006.

•The concept was eventually formalized & expanded within federal corrections.
Since that time it has spread internationally as an intervention for sex offenders
in numerous jurisdictions including the United Kingdom, parts of Europe,
several American states, South Korea, and elsewhere.

9Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA)•The mission of CoSA is to reduce the risk of further victimization by assistingand supporting offenders in leading a responsible, productive and accountable
life upon their return to the community.

•Involves offenders who have committed sexual offences and who have limited
supports in the community.

•Circles of Support and Accountability utilize trained staff and community
members who build a relationship of mutual respect between the offender andthe circle of volunteers.

•In addition to supporting the offender’s release, the aim is to reconnect themwith the larger community as a form of empowerment and support.

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Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA)
The relationship and the work of the circle are defined by a Circle
Agreement that sets out ground rules and shared expectations of all
persons involved.
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Accountability
Legal obligations
Boundaries
Communications
Confidentiality and its limits
Expectations of behaviour of core members, volunteers, andstaff

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What are the Challenges ofVolunteering?
• Security• Recruitment• Training• Retention• Changing Demographics

126Thank You
Jennifer OadesChairperson of the Parole Board of Canada
Jennifer.Oades@pbc-clcc.gc.ca

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