The Auditor General of Québec issues the conclusions of her performance audit concerning the correctional services, reintegration component - Press Release no. 5

QUÉBEC, Nov. 23, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Today, Ms. Guylaine Leclerc makes public the Fall 2016 Volume of the Report of the Auditor General of Québec to the National Assembly for 2016‑2017. In Chapter 5, she makes known the results of her audit carried out at the Ministère de la Sécurité publique (MSP) and at the Commission québécoise des libérations conditionnelles.

Assessments of offenders or accused persons are missing from files, and many are produced late. In 2014-2015, 45% of assessments were not carried out within the prescribed time limits.

Completion of several assessments and intervention plans lacks rigour. Some assessments and plans are incomplete. Certain assessments are inconsistent with the information contained in the file, and some plans do not address the problems associated with the delinquency of the persons being assessed.

Offenders do not have enough access to the programs needed to address their problems. In addition, the MSP does not carry out program assessments, which means that it is unaware of the extent to which the available programs contribute to the reintegration of these persons.

The Department's efforts to monitor the progress of offenders and accused persons are insufficient. Therefore, it cannot assess the achievement of intervention plan objectives and make adjustments, if necessary.

The MSP does not respect the frequency of controls that it set for itself to ensure compliance with court-imposed conditions during suspended sentences. In 2014-2015, it carried out only 78% of the 23,776 home visits that should have been done.

The Department does not have yet a unique file for each offender or accused person, even though the Corbo report recommended it more than 15 years ago. It does not always have the information needed for the provision of custody and care.

The MSP was slow to analyze data on offender recidivism. It still does not know the result of its reintegration efforts.

At the Commission québécoise des libérations conditionnelles, the rate of parole hearing postponements is hovering around 30%. Despite the actions undertaken by the Commission, this rate is not decreasing. The process of assembling a file is still a major cause of postponements.

The Highlights are available at www.vgq.qc.ca. The full report and a video summarizing the audit are available only in French.

Source:

Lucie Roy, Director of Communications Auditor General of Québec Tel.: [phone]

SOURCE Vérificateur Général du Québec

Lucie Roy, Director of Communications, Auditor General of Québec, Tel.: [phone]