What is section 84 of the CCRA and what does it mean?
Simply put, section 84 says that, where an inmate who is applying for a conditional release (parole or day parole) asks to be released to an Aboriginal community, it is the responsibility of the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) to inform the community of this, and to give the community an opportunity to propose a plan for the inmate’s release to that community. The Act defines community as “a First Nation, Tribal Council, Band, community organization or other group with a predominantly Aboriginal leadership”. The community is not obligated by this legislation. The obligation is on the part of CSC to invite the community to participate. The legislation is designed to give Aboriginal people greater involvement into an offender’s reintegration into their community. It puts into law a fundamental principle of good corrections: the community knows their members best, and the community knows best how to help a member who is an offender integrate safely and successfully into the community
