Offender Rehabilitation Act

Summary#

This bill lets judges add rehabilitation steps to a prison sentence and makes sure prisons and parole boards track progress on those steps. It also tells courts to treat large-scale fentanyl trafficking as more serious at sentencing.

• Judges could order people in prison to take job training, write a letter acknowledging harm to victims, join a treatment program (if they agree), or other steps meant to help them return to the community.
• People must make reasonable efforts to complete the steps within the time the court sets.
• Courts must share these orders with the federal prison service, which must include them in each person’s correctional plan.
• Parole boards must look at reports on a person’s progress on the ordered steps when deciding on parole (early release under rules).
• When sentencing for fentanyl trafficking, courts must treat large-scale trafficking as an aggravating factor (a reason to give a tougher sentence).

What it means for you#

• Offenders in custody

  • A judge may order you to take part in job training or other programs while in prison, and you must make reasonable efforts to do so.
  • A treatment program can only be ordered if you agree to take part.
  • You might be told to write a letter acknowledging harm to a victim or the community.
  • Your progress on these steps will be noted in your plan and considered when you apply for parole.

• Victims and affected community members

  • You may receive a letter from the person who offended, acknowledging harm. This is not automatic and depends on the judge’s order.
  • Parole boards will consider information from victims along with reports on the person’s progress in court-ordered steps.

• Families and communities

  • The system places more focus on rehabilitation while in custody, which aims to reduce reoffending and improve re-entry into the community.

• Correctional Service of Canada and prisons

  • Must build the judge’s ordered steps into the person’s correctional plan.
  • Must consider the availability of required programs when placing people and planning services.
  • Must provide updates that parole boards can use to judge progress.

• People convicted of fentanyl trafficking

  • If the amount involved shows large-scale trafficking, the court must treat that as an aggravating factor at sentencing, which can lead to a longer sentence.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Court-ordered programs during custody can help people build skills, address addiction, and lower the chance of reoffending.
• Requiring prisons to plan around these steps and report progress adds accountability and clearer goals.
• Having parole boards review progress rewards real rehabilitation work and encourages participation.
• Recognizing large-scale fentanyl trafficking as more serious targets those who profit most from the opioid crisis.
• The consent requirement for treatment respects individual rights while offering a path to recovery.

Opponents' View#

• Letting judges order “any other measure” may be too broad and could lead to unequal or unclear requirements.
• Access to programs varies by facility; tying parole decisions to progress could be unfair if programs are not available.
• Requiring letters to victims may risk being seen as forced or performative rather than meaningful.
• Added program demands may strain prison resources and staffing without new funding.
• Making large-scale fentanyl trafficking an aggravating factor could increase prison time and costs, and critics may doubt it will reduce the drug supply.