The National Parole Board has exclusive authority to grant both day parole and full parole, based on information and assessments prepared by CSC prison and community staff. Before granting such releases, Board members must be satisfied that the offender will not pose undue risk to the community and will fulfil specific conditions.

Full Parole is a form of conditional release that allows an offender to serve part of a prison sentence in the community. The offender is placed under supervision and is required to abide by conditions designed to reduce the risk of re-offending, and to foster reintegration of the inmate into the community. Under full parole, the person does not have to return nightly to an institution, but must report regularly to a parole supervisor, and in certain cases, to the police.

Offenders (except those serving life sentences for murder) are eligible to apply for Full Parole after serving either one-third of their sentence, or seven years.

Offenders serving life sentences for first-degree murder are eligible to apply for parole, after serving 25 years. Dates for offenders serving life sentences for second-degree murder are set between 10 and 25 years by the court.

Day Parole provides offenders with the opportunity to participate in on-going community-based activities. Ordinarily, the offender resides at a correctional institution or community residence. Offenders are also granted day parole in order to prepare for full parole and statutory release.

Offenders who are:

• serving sentences of three years or more are eligible to apply for day parole six months prior to full parole eligibility.
• serving life sentences are eligible to apply for day parole three years before their full parole eligibility date.
• serving sentences of two to three years are eligible for day parole after serving six months of their sentence.