(Disponible en français)
The Temporary Absence (TA) Program allows you to apply for a permit to be away from the institution where you are being held, without an escort. A TA permit may provide an opportunity to prepare or help you with your rehabilitation for release into the community. A TA may also be granted for humanitarian or medical reasons. A TA permit is a privilege and must be for a specific purpose.
All applications for a TA must be made in writing to the Superintendent of the institution where you are being held. The Superintendent will determine if your application is considered by the Ministry of the Solicitor General or the Ontario Parole Board (OPB).
The maximum length of a non-medical TA is 60 days; however, you can apply for an extension. There is no maximum length for a medical TA. When your TA permit expires, you must return to the correctional institution.
Any adult serving a sentence in a provincial correctional institution is eligible to apply for a TA permit at any time during their sentence.
You cannot be released on parole and a TA at the same time.
You can apply for a TA without having applied for parole, or after your request for parole has been denied.
If you are out on a TA permit, and you have not had a parole hearing, you will be contacted by the Institutional Liaison Officer (ILO).
The TA Permit Coordinator at your institution can provide you with information on how to apply for a TA permit.
The OPB will consider all available relevant information, including the same documents considered for parole when considering an application for a TA. These documents include:
Temporary Absence Application: this outlines the reason for the TA request, details about the programs you plan to take, and where you plan to live.
Monitoring Plan: this is your plan that details your reporting arrangements with the institution while on TA.
Travel Plan: this is your plan that details what your transportation arrangements will be from the institution, which could involve a family member or public transit.
If you do not provide enough details, the OPB may find that there is not enough information to grant your request for a TA permit.
There are different types of TAs depending on the circumstances:
Rehabilitative: Allows you to take part in rehabilitative activities to help you return successfully to the community. These may include substance abuse treatment programs, specialized education programs, technical training programs, and employment.
Humanitarian: Allows you to deal with essential personal matters, serious illnesses, and funerals of family members. You will only be allowed out of the institution for the period required to deal with your personal matters.
Medical: Allows you to attend necessary medical or clinical treatments.
The OPB will schedule a TA hearing within 30 days of receiving your application from the Superintendent of the correctional institution and will notify the TA Coordinator of your hearing date.
The OPB may hold an oral, electronic, or written hearing when considering the referral.
After the hearing is complete, the OPB will send the written decision to you at your institution, usually within 5 business days from the hearing date.
OPB may authorize a TA with or without conditions. If a TA is authorized, OPB may order any terms and conditions it considers appropriate.
If your TA is denied by the OPB, you can speak to the TA Coordinator about how to request a review of the decision.
All requests for a review are submitted in writing to the OPB by the TA Coordinator at your institution.
Once the OPB receives your request for review, they will review your request and will either:
After making the review decision, the Chair of the OPB or their delegate will send the written decision to you at your institution.
If the review request is granted, the OPB may hold a hearing as part of the reconsideration process. OPB may also reconsider the matter without a hearing.
OPB may cancel your TA permit if:
If your TA permit is cancelled, the OPB will order you to return immediately to the institution, with reasons for the cancellation, and may have a notice of cancellation issued to apprehend you to return to custody.
A request can be submitted in writing to review the decision to cancel your TA permit.
When OPB receives your request, the Chair of the OPB or their delegate will review the decision and any submissions made by you and will:
The OPB will send a copy of the written decision to you at your institution.