Corrections Act

CORRECTIONS ACT Chapter C‑29 Table of Contents 1 Definitions 2 Responsibility of Minister 3 Personnel Part 1 Probation and Community Corrections 4 Probation officers 5 Reports Part 2 Institutional Services 6 Correctional institutions 7 Function of director 8,9 Transfer of inmates 10 Peace officers 11 Classification process 11.1 Disclosure of health information 12 Powers of a director 13 Agreements 14 Prohibitions 14.1 Illicit‑drug testing programs 14.2 Illicit‑drug testing 14.3 Disclosure of information 14.4 Monitoring and recording inmate communication 15 Hearing adjudicators and disciplinary hearings 15.1 Appeal adjudicators 15.2 Appeal of decision of hearing adjudicator 15.3 Judicial review 16 Limited application 17 Employment requirements 18 Employment programs inside correctional institutions 19 Employment programs outside correctional institutions 20 Earnings of inmates 21 Responsibility of employer 22 Places deemed part of correctional institution 23 Authorization of temporary absence Part 3 Parole and Earned Remission 27.1 Alberta Parole Board established 27.2 Membership 27.3 Chair 27.4 Quorum 27.5 Jurisdiction 27.6 Re‑examination or rehearing 27.7 Granting of parole 27.8 Revocation of parole before release 27.9 Earned remission 28 Continuity of sentence 29 Suspension of parole 29.1 Review hearing 29.2 Calculation of term if parole revoked 30 Variation of parole 30.1 Decisions final 30.2 Annual report Part 4 General 31 General offence 32 Notice to enforce attendance 33 Regulations 34 Fine option program regulations HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows: Definitions 1 In this Act, (a) “Chief Executive Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer of the Alberta Correctional Services; (a.1) “classification process” means a security classification process and an assessment process respecting inmates; (b) “correctional institution” means (i) a holding or lock‑up facility operated by the police on a daily fee or a fee for service basis for the purpose of confining persons being held in custody prior to court appearances, on remand or undergoing a sentence or sentences of imprisonment either imposed by a court in Alberta, or imposed elsewhere than in Alberta when those persons are transferred to Alberta pursuant to an Act of Canada or an Act of another province or territory, (ii) a detention or remand facility operated by or for the Government of Alberta to detain arrested, charged or convicted persons pursuant to a law in force in Alberta, (iii) repealed 2025 c18 s1, (iv) a jail or institution referred to in section 6(1), or (v) any other facility designated as a correctional institution by the Minister, but does not include a secure services facility within the meaning of the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act ; (c) “director” means, with reference to a correctional institution, the executive head of that correctional institution; (c.01) “electronic monitoring” means the use of electronic technology to supervise and monitor the location, movements, activity, communication, specific behaviour or biometrics of an individual against whom a condition for electronic monitoring has been imposed by a court; (c.1) “illicit drug” means (i) alcohol, (i.1) cannabis, (ii) a controlled substance and an analogue, as defined in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada), and (iii) any other substance designated by the regulations; (c.2) “illicit‑drug test” means a test, provided for in the regulations, to determine the presence of an illicit drug; (d) “inmate” means a person lawfully detained or confined in a correctional institution or otherwise held in lawful custody but does not include a young person, as defined in the Youth Justice Act or the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Canada) in respect of whom no order has been made under sections 72 and 73(1) of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Canada); (d.1) “inmate communication” means communication made by oral, written or electronic means between an inmate and any other person, but does not include a privileged communication as specified in the regulations; (e) “Minister” means the Minister determined under section 16 of the Government Organization Act as the Minister responsible for this Act; (e.1) “Parole Board” means the Alberta Parole Board; (f) “probation officer” means a person employed or engaged under this Act either on a full‑time or part‑time basis in the performance of duties related to probation or matters of a like nature. RSA 2000 cC‑29 s1;2003 c16 s117;2003 c17 s2; 2003 c41 s4(26);2009 c41 s2;2011 c10 s2;2018 c7 s4; 2020 c12 s2;2024 c6 s1;2025 c18 s1 Responsibility of Minister 2 The Minister is responsible for correctional services under the jurisdiction of the Government of Alberta and in particular for (a) the provision to the courts, on request, of background information on convicted persons prior to sentencing; (b) the provision of probation and parole supervision and counselling services to offenders against the law; (c) the safe custody and detention of inmates; (d) the supervision, treatment and training of inmates with a view to their ultimate rehabilitation in society; (e) the promotion and assistance of programs designed to prevent and reduce crime within the community; (f) the provision of a broad range of options and alternatives to the court at the time of sentencing, such as work instead of a fine, performance of community service, restitution to a victim or similar alternatives; (g) the administration and oversight of an electronic monitoring program, including the establishment of protocols and procedures for the operation of the program and the monitoring of compliance with electronic monitoring conditions. RSA 2000 cC‑29;2024 c6 s1 Personnel 3 (1) In accordance with the Public Service Act , there may be appointed a Chief Executive Officer of the Alberta Correctional Services and all other employees necessary for the administration of this Act. (2) The Minister may delegate any of the powers relating to the operation of the Alberta Correctional Services conferred on the Minister by or under this or any other Act to the Chief Executive Officer or to any other person. (3) The Chief Executive Officer may delegate any power or duty conferred on the Chief Executive Officer by or under this or any other Act, including a power delegated to the Chief Executive Officer under subsection (2), to any other person on any conditions that the Chief Executive Officer may prescribe. RSA 1980 cC‑26 s3 Part 1 Probation and Community Corrections Probation officers 4 A probation officer (a) is a probation officer for the Province of Alberta; (b) is an officer of every court in Alberta insofar as that designation is consistent with the provisions of the Criminal Code (Canada) and this Act respecting probation or matters of a like nature; (c) shall prepare, on the request of a court, factual and objective pre‑sentence or post‑sentence reports; (d) is by virtue of that office a peace officer when appointed a parole supervisor under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (Canada); (e) shall supervise those persons on probation placed under the probation officer’s supervision by a court; (f) shall supervise parolees paroled under this Act and placed under the probation officer’s supervision; (g) shall comply with the instructions of the director of a correctional institution whenever that probation officer is attached to the correctional institution for the purpose of parole or probation investigations or for pre‑release or community release or other program purposes that require the presence of a probation officer in the correctional institution; (h) is by virtue of that office a peace officer while carrying out the probation officer’s duties under this Act. RSA 1980 cC‑26 s4;1994 c23 s13 Reports 5 A probation officer charged with the supervision of a person on whom the passing of sentence is suspended or who is subject to the conditions of a probation order, shall maintain a record of (a) any failure to carry out the terms on which the passing of sentence is suspended, or (b) any breach of conditions of the probation order, and shall report the failure or breach in accordance with the regulations. RSA 1980 cC‑26 s5 Part 2 Institutional Services Correctional institutions 6 (1) The institutions heretofore certified or designated as jails or correctional institutions by the Lieutenant Governor in Council continue as correctional institutions. (2) The Minister may by order designate any facility that the Minister considers appropriate as a correctional institution. (3) The Minister may by order change the name of any correctional institution. RSA 1980 cC‑26 s6 Function of director 7 (1) There may be appointed a director for each correctional institution. (2) The director of a correctional institution shall, subject to the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, (a) direct and co‑ordinate the programs of the correctional institution in accordance with the regulations, and (b) direct the operation, management and administration of the correctional institution including matters of security, inmate control, staff discipline and the care, custody, treatment and training of inmates. RSA 1980 cC‑26 s7 Transfer of inmates 8 The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for authorizing the transfer of inmates from one correctional institution to another. RSA 1980 cC‑26 s8 Transfer of inmates 9 (1) If the director is satisfied that an inmate requires treatment in a hospital or, pursuant to the Mental Health Act , requires treatment in a facility under that Act, the director may so direct by a written order. (2) Every inmate transferred to a hospital or facility under subsection (1) remains in custody while the inmate is in the hospital or facility. (3) When the director is advised by the person in charge of the hospital or facility that an inmate no longer requires treatment in the hospital or facility, the director shall direct the transfer of the inmate to a named correctional institution. (4) Repealed 2011 c10 s3. RSA 2000 cC‑29 s9;2011 c10 s3 Peace officers 10 Every employee of the Government of Alberta employed in a correctional institution is hereby constituted a peace officer for the purpose of assisting in the enforcement of law and order while in the performance of the employee’s duties. RSA 1980 cC‑26 s10 Classification process 11 The director of a correctional institution shall, in accordance with the regulations, establish a classification process for that correctional institution (a) for the purposes of (i) the intake of inmates, (ii) the placement of inmates, or (iii) programs for inmates, including programs respecting education, treatment or work and any other programs prescribed in the regulations, and (b) for any other purpose prescribed in the regulations. RSA 2000 cC‑29 s11;2011 c10 s4 Disclosure of health information 11.1 A custodian, as defined in the Health Information Act , may disclose individually identifying health information about an inmate, without the consent of the inmate, to a director of a correctional institution, and the director of the correctional institution may collect and use that information (a) for the purposes of (i) a classification process, as described in section 11, (ii) protecting the health, safety and security of inmates, staff and visitors to the correctional institution and the safety and security of the correctional institution, (iii) addressing or preventing a nuisance, as defined in the Public Health Act, in the correctional institution, or (iv) addressing or preventing a communicable disease outbreak in the correctional institution, and (b) for any other purpose prescribed in the regulations. 2011 c10 s4 Powers of a director 12 (1) Subject to the Ombudsman Act , the director of a correctional institution or a person authorized by the director may (a) open or examine any letter, parcel or other matter received at the correctional institution through the mail or otherwise, addressed to or intended for an inmate and withhold from an inmate, or otherwise deal with, any objectionable contents of the letter, parcel or matter, and (b) open or examine any letter, parcel or other matter an inmate desires to have sent out by mail or otherwise and detain or otherwise deal with any objectionable contents of the letter, parcel or matter. (2) When the director withholds, detains or otherwise deals with the contents of a letter, parcel or other matter under subsection (1), the director shall so advise the inmate concerned. RSA 1980 cC‑26 s12 Agreements 13 (1) In this section, “penitentiary” means a penitentiary as defined in the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (Canada). (2) The Minister may enter into agreements with the Government of Canada or the government of any province or territory respecting the following: (a) the transfer of inmates between a correctional institution and (i) a penitentiary within or outside Alberta, or (ii) an institution for the custody of inmates in another province or territory; (b) the rental, purchase or other use of services or facilities of the Government of Canada or the government of another province or territory required for the purposes of this Act. RSA 2000 cC-29 s13;2025 c18 s1 Prohibitions 14 (1) A person who, without the prior consent of the director, (a) gives or in any way conveys to an inmate an article or thing prohibited by the rules of the correctional institution, (b) leaves an article anywhere with intent that an inmate will get it, (c) does any other act with intent that an inmate will receive the article, (d) takes or receives from or carries out for an inmate, for any purpose, an article prohibited by the rules of the correctional institution to be taken, received or carried out, (e) buys any thing from or sells any thing to or for an inmate, (f) takes or receives for the person’s own use or for that of any other person a reward from an inmate, (f.1) brings an illicit drug, or causes an illicit drug to be brought, into a correctional institution, (f.2) possesses an illicit drug while in a correctional institution, (g) employs an inmate, or (h) endeavours to do or knowingly allows to be done any of the acts mentioned in this section, is guilty of an offence. (2) If the director has reasonable and probable grounds to believe that a person other than an inmate has contravened subsection (1)(f.1) or (f.2), the director must notify a police officer. RSA 2000 cC‑29 s14;2003 c17 s3 Illicit‑drug testing programs 14.1 A person authorized by the Minister for the purpose may demand that an inmate produce evidence of the absence of illicit drugs in the inmate’s body by submitting to an illicit‑drug test if the demand is part of a random selection under an illicit‑drug testing program conducted without individualized grounds on a periodic basis in accordance with the regulations. 2003 c17 s4 Illicit‑drug testing 14.2 (1) A person authorized by the director may demand that an inmate produce evidence of the absence of illicit drugs in the inmate’s body by submitting to an illicit‑drug test if the demand is authorized by the director and if the person authorized by the director has reasonable grounds (a) to suspect that the inmate has consumed or used an illicit drug, and (b) to require the test to confirm the consumption or use of an illicit drug. (2) A person authorized by the director may demand that an inmate produce evidence of the absence of illicit drugs in the inmate’s body by submitting to an illicit‑drug test if an illicit‑drug test is a requirement for participation in (a) a program or activity involving contact with the community, or (b) an alcohol or substance abuse program. 2003 c17 s4 Disclosure of information 14.3 (1) In this section, (a) “community corrections manager” means the employee of the department who is responsible for a probation office to which a court order has been issued in respect of the supervision of an offender in the community; (b) “department” means the department administered by the Minister; (c) “offender” means a person who has been found guilty of an offence, whether on acceptance of a plea of guilty or on a finding of guilt; (d) “probation office” means an office from which probation officers perform their duties; (e) “temporary absence” has the same meaning as in the Prisons and Reformatories Act (Canada); (f) “victim” means (i) the person against whom an offence was committed by the offender, or (ii) if the person referred to in subclause (i) is deceased, the spouse, adult interdependent partner, children, parents or siblings of the person. (2) Subject to the regulations, on the request of a victim of an offence of which an offender has been found guilty, the director of the correctional institution in which the offender is incarcerated (a) shall disclose to the victim the following information about the offender: (i) the offender’s name; (ii) the offence of which the offender was found guilty and the court that found the offender guilty; (iii) the date of commencement and length of the sentence that the court imposed; (iv) any conditions contained in the offender’s sentence that relate to the victim, and (b) may disclose to the victim any of the following information about the offender where, in the director’s opinion, the interest of the victim in the disclosure clearly outweighs any invasion of the offender’s privacy that could result from the disclosure: (i) the location of the correctional institution in which the offender’s sentence is being served; (ii) the date on which the offender is to be released from custody, including the date or dates of a temporary absence; (iii) any conditions attached to the offender’s release, including conditions attached to a temporary absence that relate to the victim; (iv) the municipality or area where the offender proposes to reside on temporary absence or while under court‑ordered community supervision and whether the offender will be in the vicinity of the victim while travelling to that municipality or area, if known. (3) Subject to the regulations, if the offender is under the supervision of a probation officer who is under the authority of a community corrections manager, the community corrections manager, on the request of a victim of the offence of which the offender has been found guilty, (a) shall disclose to the victim the following information about the offender: (i) the offender’s name; (ii) the offence of which the offender was found guilty and the court that found the offender guilty; (iii) the date of commencement and length of the sentence that the court imposed; (iv) any conditions contained in the offender’s sentence that relate to the victim, and (b) may disclose to the victim any of the following information about the offender where, in the community corrections manager’s opinion, the interest of the victim in the disclosure clearly outweighs any invasion of the offender’s privacy that could result from the disclosure: (i) any conditions attached to the offender’s release, including conditions attached to a temporary absence or to court‑ordered community supervision that relate to the victim; (ii) the municipality or area where the offender is residing while on temporary absence or while under community supervision and whether the offender will be in the vicinity of the victim while travelling to or through the municipality or area where the victim resides, if applicable. 2007 c29 s2 Monitoring and recording inmate communication 14.4 (1) Subject to the regulations, the director of a correctional institution may direct that inmate communication initiated by or received by an inmate may be recorded by electronic or other means. (2) The director of a correctional institution may restrict or monitor inmate communication where the director believes on reasonable grounds (a) that the inmate communication contains or will contain evidence of (i) an act that would jeopardize the security of the institution or the safety of any persons, or (ii) a criminal offence or a plan to commit a criminal offence, (b) that the inmate communication is or will be made to a victim as defined in section 14.3(1) or to another person who would be likely to consider the inmate communication intimidating or threatening, or (c) that the monitoring of the inmate communication is otherwise necessary for the security of the institution or for the safety of inmates, staff or the public. 2007 c29 s2;2009 c41 s3 Hearing adjudicators and disciplinary hearings 15 (1) The Minister may appoint persons, including employees of the Government of Alberta who are not employees of the correctional institution at which the disciplinary hearings will be conducted, as hearing adjudicators to conduct disciplinary hearings in accordance with the regulations for the purpose of (a) reviewing breaches by inmates of the regulations or of the rules of a correctional institution, and (b) determining appropriate punishment for breaches of the regulations or of the rules of a correctional institution. (1.1) The Minister may in writing delegate any of the Minister’s powers, duties or functions under this section to any person under the authority of the Minister. (1.2) A hearing adjudicator may be appointed for a term of not more than 5 years and may be reappointed. (1.3) A person appointed as a hearing adjudicator continues to hold office after the expiry of the term of the appointment until the person is reappointed, the person’s successor is appointed or a period of 3 months has elapsed, whichever occurs first. (1.4) The Minister may authorize and provide for the payment of the remuneration and expenses of hearing adjudicators who are not employees of the Government of Alberta. (1.5) A hearing adjudicator may accept any evidence that the hearing adjudicator considers to be relevant to the determination of the issues and is not bound by the rules of law respecting evidence applicable to judicial proceedings. (2) In determining an appropriate punishment under subsection (1)(b) the hearing adjudicators appointed under subsection (1) must consider imposing the loss of earned remission in addition to any other punishment if the contravention of the regulations or of the rules of the correctional institution involves any of the following: (a) inappropriate response by an inmate to a lawful request by an employee under the direction of the director; (b) trafficking in an illicit drug by an inmate; (c) possession or use of an illicit drug by an inmate or the presence of an illicit drug in an inmate’s body unless the drug is prescribed for the inmate in writing by a physician and authorized by the director; (d) the possession or use of a weapon; (e) an assault; (f) gang-related activity. (3) The fact that an inmate is alleged to have committed an act or omission that is an offence under an enactment of Canada or Alberta does not prevent disciplinary action from being taken against the inmate in respect of a contravention of this Act or the regulations or the rules of a correctional institution. RSA 2000 cC‑29 s15;2003 c17 s5;2007 c29 s3 Appeal adjudicators 15.1 (1) The Minister may appoint persons as appeal adjudicators to conduct, subject to the regulations, appeals of decisions of hearing adjudicators in respect of disciplinary hearings. (2) An appeal adjudicator may be appointed for a term of not more than 5 years and may be reappointed. (3) A person appointed as an appeal adjudicator continues to hold office after the expiry of the term of the appointment until the person is reappointed, the person’s successor is appointed or a period of 3 months has elapsed, whichever occurs first. (4) An appeal adjudicator may be paid remuneration and expenses while engaged in conducting an appeal or writing a decision in respect of an appeal at a rate determined by the Minister. (5) The Minister may in writing delegate any of the Minister’s powers, duties or functions under this section to any person under the authority of the Minister. 2007 c29 s4 Appeal of decision of hearing adjudicator 15.2 (1) For the purposes of subsections (2) and (4) and section 15.3, “director of the correctional institution” means the director of the correctional institution where the inmate was charged with the breach of the regulations or of the rules of the correctional institution that resulted in the disciplinary hearing. (2) An inmate to whom the decision relates or the director of the correctional institution may appeal the decision of a hearing adjudicator to an appeal adjudicator. (3) A request for an appeal by an inmate must be filed in writing with the director of the correctional institution in which the inmate is incarcerated within 7 calendar days of the decision being appealed from. (4) A request for an appeal by the director of the correctional institution must be filed with the Chief Executive Officer within 7 calendar days of the decision being appealed from. (5) The request for an appeal must set out (a) the circumstances and any other relevant particulars of the matter being appealed, (b) the grounds for the appeal, and (c) the relief being requested. (6) An appeal must be based solely on the record of the disciplinary hearing and the decision of the hearing adjudicator. (7) The record of the disciplinary hearing may be in the form of a written document or an audio or video recording of the disciplinary hearing, or any combination of them. (8) If the information provided on a request for an appeal discloses that new evidence may have become available since the disciplinary hearing, the appeal adjudicator shall refer the matter, including any of the new evidence that may have been submitted to the appeal adjudicator, to the original hearing adjudicator or another hearing adjudicator to be dealt with in accordance with subsection (9). (9) Where a matter is referred to a hearing adjudicator under subsection (8), the hearing adjudicator may (a) rehear the matter in accordance with section 15 if, in the opinion of the hearing adjudicator, (i) the new evidence was not available at the original disciplinary hearing, and (ii) the new evidence is relevant to and probative of the issues before the hearing adjudicator, or (b) refuse to rehear the matter if, in the opinion of the hearing adjudicator, (i) the evidence was available at the original disciplinary hearing but was not presented, or (ii) the evidence is not relevant to or probative of the issues before the hearing adjudicator. (10) At the conclusion of an appeal, the appeal adjudicator may (a) confirm, revoke or vary the decision of the hearing adjudicator, or (b) order that a new disciplinary hearing be held. 2007 c29 s4 Judicial review 15.3 (1) An inmate to whom the decision relates or the director of the correctional institution may apply for judicial review of a decision of an appeal adjudicator in accordance with the Alberta Rules of Court . (2) Where an inmate applies for judicial review under subsection (1), the director of the correctional institution is a party to the judicial review and may make full submissions on all issues on the application. 2007 c29 s4;2009 c53 s42 Limited application 16 The Minister may by order exempt any correctional institution from the application in whole or in part of all or any of sections 11, 12 and 15. RSA 1980 cC‑26 s16 Employment requirements 17 The director of a correctional institution shall cause every sentenced inmate in the correctional institution to be engaged or employed in an employment program to the extent that the institution can accommodate the program, if the inmate is medically fit to engage in the program. RSA 1980 cC‑26 s17 Employment programs inside correctional institutions 18 (1) If an employment program is established inside a correctional institution, an inmate who wishes to enter a program may do so if the director of the correctional institution approves the participation of that person in the program. (2) The products of the employment program inside the correctional institution are the property of the Government of Alberta and (a) may be used for the purposes and benefit of the correctional institution where the product was produced or manufactured, (b) may, with the prior consent of the Chief Executive Officer, be used to benefit any department or agency of the Government of Alberta, or (c) may be sold in any manner that the Minister specifies. (3) When services are provided under an employment program inside a correctional institution, (a) the services are available only to those persons or organizations approved in writing by the Chief Executive Officer, and (b) the cost of the services to be provided under the program must be approved by the Chief Executive Officer. (4) When a sentenced inmate is engaged in an employment program within a correctional institution the inmate may be paid an incentive allowance in accordance with the regulations. (5) Handiwork manufactured by an inmate from materials purchased by the inmate or on the inmate’s behalf may be sold on behalf of the inmate in any manner that the Chief Executive Officer determines. RSA 1980 cC‑26 s18 Employment programs outside correctional institutions 19 If an employment program is established outside a correctional institution, (a) every sentenced inmate of the correctional institution is eligible to apply to the director for permission to enter an employment program outside the correctional institution, and (b) a sentenced inmate who enters an employment or training program outside the correctional institution is subject to the rules and regulations of the correctional institution to the extent that they can be applied, unless the rule or regulation is altered or waived by the Chief Executive Officer for the purpose of the employment program. RSA 1980 cC‑26 s19 Earnings of inmates 20 (1) The earnings of a sentenced inmate engaged in an employment or training program shall be paid, less deductions required by law or by the regulations, to the director of the correctional institution to which the inmate is sentenced, who shall (a) deposit the earnings in trust on behalf of the inmate in (i) a bank, (ii) a treasury branch, (iii) a loan corporation or trust corporation, or (iv) a credit union, (b) inform the inmate as to (i) any money received on behalf of the inmate, or (ii) any money paid out on behalf of the inmate, and (c) pay any balance of money remaining to the inmate on the inmate’s release from the correctional institution. (2) The interest earned from the trust accounts shall be paid by the directors into an Institutional Benefit Fund and may be expended by the Chief Executive Officer for the benefit of all inmates of correctional institutions in Alberta. (3) The earnings of an inmate are owned by the inmate but the director may disburse on the inmate’s behalf and without the inmate’s consent any earnings of the inmate in accordance with the regulations. RSA 2000 cC‑29 s20;2001 c28 s7 Responsibility of employer 21 A person employing an inmate under an employment program pursuant to this Part is responsible for the safe custody of the inmate. RSA 1980 cC‑26 s21 Places deemed part of correctional institution 22 Every street, highway or public thoroughfare of any kind along which or across which inmates who are not on parole pass in going to or returning from their work and every place, including a place under an employment program, where they are engaged in work is, for the purposes of this Act, a part of the correctional institution to which the inmates are confined. RSA 1980 cC‑26 s22 Authorization of temporary absence 23 (1) If in the opinion of a person designated by the Minister it is appropriate for medical or humanitarian reasons or to assist in the inmate’s rehabilitation for the inmate to be temporarily absent from the correctional institution to which the inmate is confined, that person may authorize the temporary absence of that inmate in accordance with the regulations for any period and on any conditions that the person considers necessary. (2) Every inmate permitted to be temporarily absent from a correctional institution pursuant to subsection (1) is deemed to be retained in custody while the inmate is so absent for the period authorized. RSA 1980 cC‑26 s23 Part 3 Parole and Earned Remission 24 to 27 Repealed 2020 c12 s3. Alberta Parole Board established 27.1 The Alberta Parole Board is established as a provincial parole board, as defined in Part II of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (Canada), for Alberta. 2020 c12 s4 Membership 27.2 (1) The Parole Board comprises such members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council as the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary. (2) A person appointed to the Parole Board holds office for a term of not more than 5 years as set out in the appointment and, subject to the Alberta Public Agencies Governance Act and any applicable regulations under that Act, is eligible for reappointment. (3) Notwithstanding that the term of office of a member of the Parole Board may have expired, the member continues to hold office until (a) the member is reappointed, (b) a successor is appointed, or (c) a period of 6 months has elapsed, whichever occurs first. (4) A member of the Parole Board must be paid (a) fees or remuneration, and (b) expenses for subsistence and travelling while absent from the member’s ordinary place of residence in the course of duty as a member set by the Lieutenant Governor in Council in accordance with any applicable regulations under the Alberta Public Agencies Governance Act . (5) If regulations under the Alberta Public Agencies Governance Act apply in respect of fees, remuneration or expenses to be paid to members of the Parole Board, those regulations prevail, to the extent of any conflict or inconsistency, over an order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council under subsection (4). 2020 c12 s4;2022 c12 s1 Chair 27.3 (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall designate one of the members of the Parole Board as the chair. (2) The Minister may by order designate one of the members of the Parole Board to be the acting chair during the absence of the chair. (3) An acting chair has all the functions, powers and duties of the chair. 2020 c12 s4 Quorum 27.4 (1) Subject to subsection (2), 2 members of the Parole Board constitute a quorum. (2) For the purpose of a re-examination or rehearing under section 27.6, 3 members of the Parole Board constitute a quorum. 2020 c12 s4 Jurisdiction 27.5 The Parole Board has exclusive jurisdiction to examine, hear and determine all matters and questions relating to the release of inmates on parole and any matter or thing in respect of which any power, authority or discretion is conferred on the Parole Board by or under this Act or which is conferred on a provincial parole board by or under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (Canada). 2020 c12 s4 Re-examination or rehearing 27.6 Where the Parole Board fails to reach a decision on any matter, question or thing that was examined or heard by only 2 members, the Parole Board shall re-examine or rehear the matter, question or thing. 2020 c12 s4 Granting of parole 27.7 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Parole Board may order the release from provincial custody on parole of any inmate convicted of an offence under any Act of the Legislature, under any Act of the Parliament of Canada or contrary to any municipal bylaw on such conditions as the Parole Board may determine. (2) The Parole Board may only grant parole to an inmate if, in its opinion, (a) the inmate will not, by reoffending, present an undue risk to society before the expiration according to law of the sentence the inmate is serving, and (b) the release of the inmate will contribute to the protection of society by facilitating the reintegration of the inmate into society as a law-abiding citizen. (3) Where the Parole Board grants parole to an inmate in provincial custody at a correctional institution, the director of the correctional institution shall release the inmate on parole on receiving notice of the order granting parole from the Parole Board. 2020 c12 s4 Revocation of parole before release 27.8 Where parole has been granted but the inmate has not yet been released from custody on parole, the Parole Board may (a) revoke its grant of parole if the Parole Board obtains new information that is relevant to its decision to grant parole, or (b) cancel its grant of parole if the inmate requests in writing that the grant of parole be cancelled. 2020 c12 s4 Earned remission 27.9 (1) An inmate who is serving a sentence for an offence under a provincial enactment or a municipal bylaw may be credited with earned remission in accordance with the regulations. (2) Where parole is granted, the term of parole includes any portion of remission standing to the credit of the parolee when released from custody and ends on the expiration of the sentence as set out in the warrant of committal. 2020 c12 s4 Continuity of sentence 28 The sentence of a parolee continues in force until its expiration according to law. RSA 2000 cC‑29 s28;2020 c12 s5 Suspension of parole 29 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the chair of the Parole Board or a person designated for the purpose by the chair may, by warrant, (a) suspend a parolee’s parole, (b) authorize the apprehension of the parolee, and (c) authorize the recommittal of the parolee to custody until the suspension is cancelled, the parole is revoked or the sentence expires according to law. (2) A warrant may be issued under subsection (1) only if (a) the parolee breaches a condition of the parole, or (b) the chair of the Parole Board or designated person referred to in subsection (1) (i) obtains new information that, had it been received earlier, would have resulted in the parolee not being granted parole, or (ii) is satisfied that it is necessary and reasonable to suspend the parole in order to (A) prevent a breach of a condition of parole, or (B) protect any person from danger or any property from damage. RSA 2000 cC‑29 s29;2020 c12 s6 Review hearing 29.1 (1) The Parole Board shall hold a hearing to review the suspension of the inmate’s parole as soon as possible after a parolee has been recommitted to custody under section 29(1). (2) The Parole Board shall consider the reasons for suspending the parole and the submissions, if any, of the inmate and shall, after a hearing under subsection (1), (a) lift the suspension of the parole and allow the inmate to be released and continue the parole on the conditions that the Parole Board considers appropriate, or (b) revoke the parole. 2020 c12 s6 Calculation of term if parole revoked 29.2 Where parole is revoked by the Parole Board after a hearing under section 29.1(1), the inmate shall serve the remaining portion of the inmate’s term of imprisonment, including any remission that was to the inmate’s credit at the time parole was granted, less (a) the period of time spent on parole, (b) the period of time during which parole was suspended and the inmate was in custody, and (c) any remission credited to the inmate applicable to the period during which the inmate is in custody after the parole was suspended. 2020 c12 s6 Variation of parole 30 The Parole Board may in its discretion change or vary the terms and conditions attached to a parole. RSA 2000 cC‑29 s30;2020 c12 s7 Decisions final 30.1 Any action or decision of the Parole Board on a matter, question or thing for which the Parole Board has exclusive jurisdiction is final and cannot be challenged in any court or tribunal. 2020 c12 s8 Annual report 30.2 After the end of each fiscal year, the Parole Board shall prepare and submit to the Minister a report setting out (a) the number of parole applications received for the fiscal year, (b) a summary of the Parole Board decisions for the fiscal year, and (c) any other information that the Minister may require. 2020 c12 s8 Part 4 General General offence 31 A person who contravenes this Act or the regulations is guilty of an offence and liable to (a) a fine of not more than $500 and in default of payment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, (b) imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or (c) both fine and imprisonment. RSA 1980 cC‑26 s31 Notice to enforce attendance 32 (1) A notice to enforce the attendance of a witness at a hearing of a Board of Inquiry established under the regulations may be issued by the chair of the Board of Inquiry and shall state the time and place at which the witness is to attend. (2) A witness may be examined on oath on all matters relevant to the inquiry and shall not be excused from answering any question on the grounds that the answer (a) might tend to incriminate the witness, (b) might subject the witness to punishment under this Act, or (c) might tend to establish the witness’s liability (i) to a civil proceeding at the instance of the Crown or of any other person, or (ii) to prosecution under any statute, but the answer so given, if it tends to incriminate the witness or to establish the witness’s liability to a civil proceeding, shall not be used or received against the witness in any civil proceedings, in a prosecution under this Act or in any proceeding under any other Act, except in a prosecution for or proceedings in respect of perjury or the giving of contradictory evidence. (3) A witness (a) who fails to attend before the Board of Inquiry, or (b) who refuses to be sworn or to answer any question allowed by the chair of the Board of Inquiry, is liable to attachment on application to a judge of the Court of King’s Bench. (4) A witness attending before a Board of Inquiry may be paid a fee for attendance at the rate prescribed in the regulations. (5) The chair of a Board of Inquiry may compel witnesses to produce documents, records and things for the purposes of the inquiry. RSA 2000 cC‑29 s32;2011 c10 s5;AR 217/2022 Regulations 33 The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations (a) respecting the qualifications, duties and powers of probation officers; (b) governing reports by probation officers; (c) for the good order and internal management, including the direction and co‑ordination of programs, of correctional institutions; (d) concerning the security of correctional institutions and the discipline of inmates; (e) regarding the searching of visitors and other persons entering a correctional institution; (f) prescribing and governing the duties and conduct of persons employed in correctional institutions; (g) establishing standards for the maintenance and operation of correctional institutions and the inspection of them; (h) prescribing the privileges that may be earned, suspended or forfeited by inmates in correctional institutions; (i) prescribing penalties for inmates who fail to comply with the regulations or the rules of the correctional institution; (j) governing the procedure and conduct of disciplinary hearings under section 15 and appeals under section 15.2; (k) requiring an inmate on entry to and during the inmate’s imprisonment in a correctional institution to submit to searches, illicit‑drug tests and illicit‑drug testing programs and to medical, dental and mental examinations; (k.1) respecting the manner and form of making requests for disclosure of information under section 14.3 and respecting procedures to be followed in dealing with those requests; (k.2) governing the monitoring and recording of inmate communication and prescribing the procedures to be followed in implementing monitoring and recording of inmate communication; (k.3) specifying communications between an inmate and another person that are privileged communications; (k.4) respecting criteria that must be applied in determining whether an inmate communication is a privileged communication; (l) for the transfer of inmates from one correctional institution to another; (m) for the provision to an inmate on the inmate’s release of clothing, transport and money; (n) respecting the establishment and purposes of a classification process for correctional institutions; (n.1) prescribing programs for inmates for the purposes of section 11(a)(iii); (n.2) prescribing purposes for which individually identifying health information may be disclosed or used pursuant to section 11.1(b); (o) specifying the matters regarding which a director may make rules for a correctional institution; (p) governing the establishment of employment programs and the organization, operation, management and administration of them; (q) governing the manner in which an inmate may apply for entry to an employment program and the conditions and restrictions attached to entry to the program; (r) establishing the criteria on which the director of a correctional institution must judge the advisability or otherwise of permitting an inmate to enter an employment program; (s) respecting the security of inmates and the duties and responsibilities of an employer of inmates; (t) prescribing a schedule of incentive allowances to be paid to inmates engaged in an employment or training program; (u) respecting the terms and conditions attached to employment or training programs; (v) governing the manner in which an employer pays the earnings of an inmate to the director of a correctional institution; (w) concerning the disbursement by the director of a correctional institution of any earnings of the inmate; (x) respecting the establishment and operation of canteens and other sources of revenue in correctional institutions and the distribution of profits from them; (y) authorizing and governing the establishment of committees to inquire into any matter relating to the operation of a correctional institution; (y.1) repealed 2022 c12 s1; (z) establishing types of parole and the particular terms and conditions attached to each type; (aa) concerning the persons or classes of persons eligible to apply for parole and the portions, if any, of the terms of imprisonment that inmates must serve before parole may be granted; (aa.1) respecting criteria for crediting earned remission; (bb) respecting the terms and conditions attached to parole; (cc) governing the establishment, operation and management of programs relating to probation and community corrections; (dd) relating to the temporary absence of inmates; (dd.1) relating to an electronic monitoring program; (ee) prescribing forms and providing for their use; (ff) prescribing the rates of fees payable to witnesses attending committees of inquiry established under this Act; (gg) designating substances as illicit drugs; (hh) respecting illicit‑drug tests and illicit‑drug testing programs. RSA 2000 cC‑29 s33;2003 c17 s6;2007 c29 s5; 2009 c41 s6;2011 c10 s6;2020 c12 s9; 2022 c12 s1;2024 c6 s1 Fine option program regulations 34 (1) In this section, “fine option program” means a program in which an individual against whom a fine is imposed in respect of an offence against an enactment of Alberta or an offence referred to in section 736 of the Criminal Code (Canada) may discharge the fine in whole or in part by earning credits for work performed. (2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations establishing and governing a fine option program. (3) The regulations under this section may authorize the official responsible for the fine option program to delegate any of the official’s powers and duties. RSA 2000 cC‑29 s34;2018 c20 s5