Pardon Statistics – 2013
Since 1970 approximately 460, 000 pardons and record suspensions have been granted. Here are the statistics for 2012 – 2013, provided by the Parole Board of Canada.
Pardons Granted – 612
Rate of success – 82%
Record Suspensions Granted – 6,030
Rate of Success – 97%
Royal Prerogative of Mercy Applications Granted
In 2012: 52 requests received, 12 granted
The discrepancy between pardons and record suspensions is problematic. Since the pardon program was more inclusive it would follow that the pardon acceptance rate should be higher than the record suspension acceptance rate. But it doesn’t seem to be the case.
It was under the record suspension legislation that the Parole Board was awarded the right to refuse a record suspension for any reason whatsoever so it would seem to make sense that record suspensions should be granted at a lower rate. But it isn’t the case. However, we know that there is a backlog of thousands of pardon applications that are not being awarded without adequate explanation why. So perhaps the Parole Board is including the applications that have not yet been reviewed when calculating these statistics.
I have long thought that the Parole Board is stalling pardon applications that are waiting for a review. But to be perfectly honest I have no idea what’s going on with the backlog and it’s certainly possible that there is simply a lack of resources. I would blame the Conservative government for this since I don’t think pardons are very high up on their priority list.
I find it comforting, however, that the record suspension program has such a high acceptance rate because we have seen a lot of Proposal to Deny Letters that didn’t make a lot of sense. But were we’ve been accustomed to working within the pardon program. Although the end result is the same, the procedures have a lot of differences.
Let’s hope that 2015 sees the end of the pardons backlog. With luck it will all be cleared out in time for our next election.