Standards of Professional Conduct

Introduction

The Ontario Parole and Earned Release Board is a regulatory agency of the Ontario Government and is enabled by the federal Corrections and Conditional Release Act and the provincial Ministry of Correctional Services Act and Regulations to be responsible for provincial parole decision-making. This government responsibility is shared with the public to afford the best balance between the benefits of conditional release for the offender and society's right to be protected.

The Board believes that its staff and members are its greatest resource. While the Board's mandate and membership are derived from law, members are expected and encouraged to contribute to meeting the mandate in ways which exceed basic statutory requirements. Aside from the obvious expectations of financial responsibility, secrecy and loyalty to office, the Board also has expectations about professional conduct. The Board believes that each member will develop his or potential to the greatest degree and that the Board's mandate will be fulfilled most effectively if each member is treated as a responsible, professional decision-maker.

The Board's members are appointed by Order in Council and, as such, are public officials who are empowered by the Legislature to exercise a public trust. The public expects appointees to exercise their lawful authority in certain ways. Members who represent the public are expected to be impartial, honest, prudent and efficient. As representatives of the public, members must be accountable for their actions, must not profit from the authority entrusted to them in ways not open to other members of the public and must exercise their authority fairly.

As appointees, members undertake to serve the public interest before their own and to perform their assigned duties with fairness and efficiency. Members are accountable to the public through the normal chain of command, that is, through their senior members to the Chair, through the Chair to the Minister and through the Minister to the Legislature. Members have a duty to perform their responsibilities in a conscientious and professional manner and, in so doing, have a right to be treated with dignity and respect by the organization and to be given the opportunity to use and develop their abilities to the maximum.

Purpose of Standards

Members want and, in fact, need to know what the Board expects of them in the workplace. The Board has a Mission Statement with a set of values and principles for undertaking its legislated mandate. However, the Board believes that an articulation of standards for member behaviour is required for members to properly conduct Board business in a way which is consistent with the Mission. Written standards serve as a guide for all members as they carry out their roles and responsibilities for the Board and the public.

The Board also believes that a written articulation of standards of conduct will:

• reflect the Board's and management's commitment to professionalism
• instill in all existing and prospective members an understanding of what the Board believes is appropriate
• promote public confidence in the Board
• inspire a collegial workplace atmosphere in which corporate values are shared, understood, accepted and practiced
• foster and preserve trust in members' relationships with clients, the public, other members and the many other persons with whom they come into contact in their professional capacity
• improve individual decision-making by sensitizing members to the need for excellence in their actions and decisions
• legitimize the imposition of sanctions for unacceptable behaviour.

Board standards are not intended to limit individual judgment, nor are they intended to define behaviour for every situation.

Preserving the Standards

Prior to appointment to the Board, members will be provided with a copy of the Board's Standards of Professional Conduct. Members will be expected to abide by the standards during their tenure, therefore prospective members should declare any difficulties or conflicts they might have with the standards prior to acceptance of the appointment.

After their appointment, members must become familiar with the standards, with the assistance of the Board, and must vow to abide by them. The Board believes that the best way to prevent infractions of the standards is for members to declare any conflicts they might have at the earliest opportunity.

The Board's senior managers will lead by example and will be accountable for maintaining and ensuring adherence to these standards. It will be the senior member's responsibility to promptly investigate any breaches of the standards on behalf of the Chair, to contribute to the development of sound policy to address difficult situations and to communicate rules and procedures to members.

The Chair of the Board or designate is responsible for dealing with breaches of the standards and with members' failure to abide by or cooperate in maintaining the standards. The Chair may invite Board members to aid in a review of infractions and recommend further action to be taken.

An infraction of a standard articulated in the Standards of Professional Conduct may result in one or more of the following actions being taken:

• close monitoring of performance
• counseling
• a requirement of additional training or special schedule
• an oral reprimand
• a written reprimand
• a recommendation to the Chair/ Minister regarding the member's appointment or re-appointment.

Standards of Professional Conduct

Standards of Professional Conduct have been developed by the Ontario Parole and Earned Release Board in order to establish standards of excellence for Board members in the delivery of parole services.

All Board appointees must abide by these standards and will be held accountable for their preservation through the performance review and reappointment processes.

Performing Assigned Duties

• Board members shall perform their duties to the best of their abilities within the framework of the law, the Board's Mission Statement, values and principles, policy and program objectives and directions from their senior members.
• Board members shall respect the authority of the Chair and shall be accountable for their own actions and the actions of their subordinates through their senior members to the Chair.
• Board members shall preserve the independence of their office by exercising their own judgment.
• Board members shall serve the public in an expeditious and timely manner.
• Board members shall refrain from publicly expressing personal views on matters of Board policy, administration or internal parole issues.

Promoting Social Values

• Board members shall avoid participation in any activity or decision which presents a real, potential or apparent conflict with the performance of their duties.
• Board members shall obey the law and shall demonstrate honesty and fairness in their activities to promote law-abiding and responsible behaviour in others.
• Board members shall avoid words, phrases, actions, statements or questions which would or could be perceived to demonstrate bias or prejudice against an individual or group, based on race, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation or other personal abilities, characteristics or beliefs.
• Board members shall maintain the objectivity and impartiality of the Board.

Acting in the Individual's Interest

• Board members shall respect the right of individuals to privacy and shall preserve the confidentiality of any information acquired through their public office, unless authorized or required to release it.
• Board members shall observe the rules of procedural fairness and natural justice and shall inspire confidence in parole processes.

Acting in the Public Interest

• Board members shall present a professional image in dress and demeanor to promote public confidence in the integrity of the Board.
• Board members shall foster a work environment which promotes employment equity, personal health and safety and freedom from discrimination and harassment.
• Board members shall be sensitive and responsive to the needs of the public for information on and explanation of the content and administration of Board policies and programs.
• Board members shall contribute to the development and maintenance of an effective and efficient parole service for Ontario.