What is Section 84?

Section 84 of the federal Corrections and Conditional Release Act applies if you are serving your sentence in a federal jail. It says that if you are interested and if you agree to the release of your information, Correctional Service Canada can give information about you to your Indigenous community. They can tell your community about your release date and give them an opportunity to propose a plan for your release back to your community. This can help make your transition out of custody smoother, more successful and allow you to gain the support of your community moving forward.

You should be told about section 84 and this process as part of your intake into a federal facility. If you are not, you can ask the intake officer or anyone on your case management team. The process begins with you writing a letter to your community asking for their support. Corrections staff then follow up with the community to ask if they are interested in participating in your release planning. You are usually expected to apply for day parole as soon as possible as a part of this plan. 

You do not have to participate in the section 84 process or have your community involved in your release or reintegration if you do not want that.