LifeLine is a correctional concept involving convicted, but paroled, men and women serving life sentences who have been successfully reintegrated into the community for at least five years. They return to an institution where they help develop programs for lifers; help motivate offenders; help offenders reintegrate; and contribute to public safety.

The Mission of LifeLine is to provide, through the In-Reach component and community endeavours, an opportunity to motivate inmates and to marshal resources to achieve successful, supervised, gradual reintegration into the community.

The Mission is pursued through three key components of the LifeLine concept:

1. The In-Reach Program. Successful lifers, supported by a sponsoring, voluntary community-based agency, return to institutions to work with other inmate lifers - to serve as motivators, mentors and mediators.
2. Community Resources. Once released on parole, a lifer must reintegrate into a community and rebuild relationships that have changed dramatically. To succeed, parolees need community resources, such as peer support, which help them find and keep a job, and learn how to live independently in a "new" world. St-Leonard's House Windsor operates the only dedicated residential facility for newly paroled lifers. In other communities, special facilities geared to inmates with determinate sentences provide needed support and residential services.
3. Public Awareness. In-Reach Workers play a significant role in raising public awareness of effective, humane corrections and the situation facing lifers. They meet with community groups, organizations and other interested parties, including the media and legislative committees, to talk about their experiences and "lessons learned". They also put significant emphasis on "preventive work", particularly with youth.
   
   Success of the In-Reach Worker depends on collaboration with community-based voluntary agencies who engage them, through a contract with the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), and provide guidance and support to the In-Reach Workers.

Canada abandoned capital punishment in 1964 and commuted all death sentences to life imprisonment. In 1976 the death penalty was removed from the Criminal Code of Canada and replaced by life imprisonment with no consideration of parole for 10 to 25 years. Thus, Canada was faced with a growing number of lifers being incarcerated for much longer periods.

Lifers as Resources, Successes and Symbols

Lifers as Resources. Lifers traditionally bring a degree of stability to institutions due to their interest in maintaining a peaceful environment. Also, because of their experience and knowledge of the correctional scene, they can contribute towards the initiation and implementation of programs.

Lifers as Successes. Lifers have committed the ultimate offence against society, but the vast majority are not calculating, experienced criminals. While serial killers and assassins exist, they are not the typical lifer. Most murder victims are usually a relative or close acquaintance. Most frequently, lifers' crimes are triggered by circumstance, substance abuse, emotional trauma, or a combination of these. They are among the most likely to succeed on parole.

Lifers as Symbols. Lifers are often portrayed as high-profile offenders that are sensationalized because of the seriousness of their crime. However, the fact that most lifers return to their communities as law-abiding citizens, demonstrates the effectiveness of the partnership among motivated offenders, involved staff and supportive citizens in preparing offenders for responsible citizenship.

Today, about 4300 offenders are serving life sentences. Of this number, one-third are under parole supervision in the community for the rest of their lives, while the remaining two-thirds are serving their sentence in an institution.

The inmate population of life sentenced and indeterminate male offenders has increased by 38% since 1990. These offenders make up 21% of all inmates.

LifeLine is an innovative service that engages convicted, but paroled, offenders to return to the institution and contribute to program development, motivation and reintegration of lifers, and ultimately, public safety.

LifeLine was developed by a tripartite alliance of the Correctional Service of Canada, the National Parole Board and community agencies. A planning grant from the Donner Foundation in 1990 initiated a collaborative partnership by funding a task force with representatives from both the Federal Government and from non-profit agencies to define the concept. The first In-Reach Worker, the late Tom French, entered Millhaven Maximum-Security institution as a community-based worker in 1991. "A big man both physically and in heart and spirit, he set a pattern for others to emulate". He described his role as keeping lifers "...alive, sane and out of trouble". From the first contact, he went on to help lifers plan and carry out a program that offered them hope and a chance to successfully return to society.

In 1998, LifeLine developed a blueprint for implementing this program nationally. In August of the same year, the American Correctional Association recognized LifeLine as a "program of excellence". In October, 2002 LifeLine received the "offender management/treatment and reintegration award" from the International Corrections and Prisons Association for the advancement of professional corrections.

The National Resource Group, which includes the Chair of the NPB and the Assistant Commissioner, Community Engagement of the CSC, promotes and oversees the implementation of the LifeLine concept. This group continues to reflect the shared interests of the CSC, NPB, community agencies and In-Reach Workers, which have shaped the LifeLine concept. However, the key to success is the In-Reach Worker. Today, there are more than 25 In-Reach Workers, including women and Aboriginals, making the service available to every lifer.

The In-Reach Worker is a living example that a lifer, with help from concerned staff and supportive citizens, cannot only survive, but succeed. The worker is evidence that in the often-isolated world of the lifer, there is someone who cares. The In-Reach Worker offers a message to correctional staff and society. Here is living proof that "rehabilitation", "reintegration", and even "redemption" work... perhaps more than we realize.

In-Reach Workers and their sponsoring community-based voluntary agencies can be found across Canada.

In-Reach Workers are provided and funded by the CSC on a formula of no more than one In-Reach Worker to 125 lifers.

LifeLine, like any successful initiative in corrections, requires an effective working relationship between motivated offenders, involved staff and supportive citizens. Together these components forge a powerful, progressive partnership.

The following are some of the community-based agencies sponsoring In-Reach Workers:

St. Leonard's Society, Nova Scotia

John Howard Society, Moncton

Maison St. Leonard's House, Montreal

St. Leonard's Society, Windsor

Elizabeth Fry Society, Kingston

Elizabeth Fry Society, Montreal

John Howard Society, Manitoba

John Howard Society, Saskatchewan

Community Justice Ministries, Alberta

LINC (Long Term Offenders in the Community), British Columbia

Worth Repeating

Some words of encouragement from present and past observers:

"I prefer murderers to punks… They're older and time is running out… They are willing to try harder. " The late Father Neil Libby, founder of St-Leonard's House and St-Leonard's Society of Canada.

"It's not good enough simply to do time, keep out of trouble and scan a program or two for the record. There must be meaningful evidence that solid change has occurred." The late Senator Earl A. Hastings.

"I'm not selling LifeLine… but it is better than just letting them go. They are in our community now. If they are going to get out, it is better they go through a halfway house." Sandy Atkin, victim.

"Such a program is not only practical, cost effective and humane, it is also, and this is by far the most important consideration, the one that provides the best long term protection for the public." National Resource Committee Report on the LifeLine Project, 1990.

"The vast majority of convicted murderers neither benefit from nor require such long periods of incarceration. Protection of society… is best achieved through early, supervised release and supportive, phased re-entry into the community." John Braithwaite, speaking as past president, Canadian Criminal Justice Association.

"A life sentence is forever. A life was taken and that may be your chance to give a life back to society… your own. It may take effort, it will take honesty, but is that so bad?" Richard Sauvé, In-Reach Worker.

"LifeLine makes sweet sense." June Callwood, speaking at St. Leonard's Society Windsor 30^th anniversary, June 1992.

"LifeLine gives meaning to its members. We all need to have meaning in our lives to make life bearable." Wilma Derksen, Director of Victims' Voices.

"The way that I live my life from this day on will either respect or disrespect, honour or dishonour, the person whose life I took." Alex Cheesequay, lifer on parole.

"LifeLine enables individuals sentenced to life imprisonment to give something back to society. The In-Reach Worker is a vital resource to offenders still incarcerated and a valued contributor to building safer communities by helping others be as successful as them. It's a unique initiative." Lucie McClung, Commissioner, Correctional Service of Canada, 2002.

"LifeLine offers two very essential things to ensure a long-term offender's return to the community is safe and successful - hope and support." Ian Glen, Chair, National Parole Board, 2002.