Hello Everyone :wave:

I am still new to PTO as well as the whole prison experience. I am so amazed at how much support this site offers. It's amazing!:thumbsup: I was just wondering what the differences are between Federal and Provincial Institutions? How do they determine which one a prisoner will go to? Does it have anything to do with time sentenced or the severity of the charge?:help:
If anyone has any insights it would be greatly appreciated.

Meems:grouphug:

Provincial sentences comprise of any sentence that is less than 2 years. Often a newspaper will state a sentence as 2 years less a day. This means the judge mandated the sentence be served in a provincial institution. Remember that probation may be added to this sentence as well.
For sentences of 2 years or more then it is served in a federal penitentiary and the sentence is managed by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC).
If the case calls for a sentence of about 2 years then a judge may consider what facilities have the appropiate programs/treatment for the offender, also defence and Crown will weigh in, but in the end it appears to be a subjective call by the judge.
The advantage of provincial time (in most provinces) is that an inmate is eligible for remission of sentence and therefore can be released without conditions (barring a probation order) at about the 2/3rds marks. With a federal sentence, the whole sentence must be served; however, part of that is on parole. On the 2/3rds mark of a federal sentence most inmates are released but are still on parole until the sentence is complete.
The disadvantage of provincial is the programs are often considered inferior (although some may debate that) to federal programs. Since the feds are responsible for longer sentences, they also have more programs.
It should be noted that this 2 year rule is a historical anomaly. I have never found a reason why Canada has this 2 year rule defining federal or provincial time but it has been around since 1867. Another oddity is that federal institutions are technically penitentiaries where provincial institutions are "public or reformatory prisons".

Thanks so much Quentin. All your info is really helpful.

Meems

if your man has a choice.....do Fed. get out WAYYY sooner than Prov. (in BC anyways)...and easier time...:p ...same old smile and nod game in both divisions thou...he's gotta play the "i understand game" . :cool:

NO, don't do fed, not in ontariio.......

any wahy is that? in fed time they have to do 2/3.....in prov..they do it all ...works out to less in reality ....totally interested in why you say that...

any wahy is that? in fed time they have to do 2/3.....in prov..they do it all ...works out to less in reality ....totally interested in why you say that...

BC here ...in case i didn't disclaim that ...but my man has done day sentencing ..in the prov ...fed time...it's always an early release!:!? why do you not endorse your man to get out earlier??!!

no, in prov, they don't have to do it all..........I've been there and done that......maybe in Bc, but not in Ontario.

why are you quoting yourself, i can read your post. You are from the other side of our great country....things are different.

Feds don't have remission. The 2/3rds mark is statutory release but the inmate is still on parole till the end of the sentence. Provincial corrections in BC and Ontario have remission, and although the calculations for remission may change between provinces, the sentence is considered complete once the inmate is released. (ie no parole/stat release conditions).

I've been in both Federal and Provincial Systems (Ontario).

There is no doubt in MY mind... and everyone that I"ve personally talked to ....that Federal is the ONLY way to go. In fact, there was a recent case in KW where the accused asked the judge to uncrease his sentence so that he would do Federal Time.
Among the various advantages/differences you must also consider Smoking, prison job opportunities, security classifications, attitude of CO's and the availability of "camp life".

Thats my 2 cents worth

Casey

Thanks to everyone for all you input. It helps alot :hifive:

Meems:grouphug:

Thank you Casy ,,,,,for you input, I am new to this site ... my brother is being sentenced in April , looks like fed time. Lawyer tells him to start working out. I fear for my brother. He is scared big time.

I've been in both Federal and Provincial Systems (Ontario).

There is no doubt in MY mind... and everyone that I"ve personally talked to ....that Federal is the ONLY way to go. In fact, there was a recent case in KW where the accused asked the judge to uncrease his sentence so that he would do Federal Time.
Among the various advantages/differences you must also consider Smoking, prison job opportunities, security classifications, attitude of CO's and the availability of "camp life".

Thats my 2 cents worth

Casey

I agree