3. Statistical Information

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Overview

The period covered by this annual report is from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. Table 1 provides an overview of active files during the reporting period.

Inquiries

This includes people who contact the CCRG for the first time for general information about the conviction review process or to request a copy of the booklet Applying for a Conviction Review or other information. It does not include follow-up inquiries after initial contact.

During the reporting period, the CCRG received 37 such inquiries.

Applications Made to the Minister

Table 2 indicates the number of applications that the Minister actually received during this period. An application is considered “completed” and thus eligible for review when a person has submitted the forms, information and supporting documents required by the Regulations. During this period, the Minister received 22 applications, 15 completed. This is up from last year but still a slight decrease in completed applications compared to recent years. The CCRG averaged 17 or 18 new completed applications per year from 2016 to 2023. The average was five per year from 2003 to 2015.

An application is considered “partially completed” where a person has submitted some, but not all, of the forms, information, and supporting documents required by the Regulations. For example, a person may have submitted the application form but not the supporting documents required. Although it is the applicant’s responsibility to provide the required documentation, CCRG staff frequently assist. It is not unusual for an application to remain “partially completed” for a period of time while the applicant gathers and submits the necessary documents and information. Of the 22 applications made to the Minister during the reporting period, 7 were still “partially completed” at year’s end.

An application is “screened out” if the person is not eligible to make an application for ministerial review. This covers a variety of circumstances – for example, if an application relates to a provincial offence, involves a civil matter, or deals with the same subject as a previously denied application and does not raise any new matters of significance. The most common reason for screening out applications, however, is where an applicant has not yet exhausted their rights of appeal in the court system. Eight applications were screened out during this reporting period, five because of a failure to exhaust rights of appeal, two because they did not relate to a federal conviction, and one because it was a civil matter.

Progress of Applications through the Conviction Review Process

Table 3 summarizes the work completed in the first three stages of the conviction review process. Sixteen preliminary assessments were completed during the period. Three investigations were completed and one application was abandoned.

The time required to conduct a preliminary assessment typically ranges from a few weeks to several months. An investigation usually takes a number of additional months to complete. Both preliminary assessments and investigations can take even longer if the case is particularly complex or a large volume of material has been submitted. Every conviction review is different, but by the time a full investigation is completed the CCRG will have reviewed a voluminous amount of material, including transcripts, submissions from the applicant, relevant case law, and expert reports. CCRG counsel may also have acquired and reviewed police, Crown and defence files, and interviewed former counsel and key witnesses. The CCRG will also have drafted a comprehensive investigation report and requested and reviewed submissions from the applicant and prosecuting agency.

Preliminary Assessments

Tables 4 and 5 provide further information about the work done at the preliminary assessment stage. Table 4 summarizes the 59 applications that were at the preliminary assessment stage during the reporting period. At year’s end, there were 12 applications awaiting preliminary assessment, and 16 were completed. Twenty-eight more were underway but not yet completed. One preliminary assessment was abandoned. Two are on hold. Table 5 shows that of the 16 preliminary assessments completed, three proceeded to the investigation stage, while 13 were rejected. An application is rejected at the preliminary assessment stage because the CCRG determined that there was no reasonable basis to conclude that a miscarriage of justice likely occurred. When a decision was made to proceed to the investigation stage, the CCRG determined that there may be a reasonable basis to conclude that a miscarriage of justice likely occurred.

Of the 59 applicants at the preliminary assessment stage, two identified as women and the rest as men. 37 applications were from individuals not represented by counsel, while 22 were represented. Twenty-seven applicants were in custody, while 32 were not in custody.

Investigations

Table 6 summarizes the work done on applications that were at the investigation stage. An investigation is considered complete when an investigation report is forwarded to the Minister for review and decision.

Three investigations were completed during the reporting period. Three investigations were carried over from the previous period and three new investigations began following preliminary assessment.

All applicants at the investigation stage were represented by counsel. Two identified as women and the rest as men. Two were in custody during the reporting period. Of the remaining seven applicants, six were already out of custody prior to an application being submitted, and one had previously been released on bail pending the outcome of their review.

Decisions by the Minister

Table 7 summarizes the decisions made by the Minister during the reporting period. Three remedies were granted, all for a new trial. No matters were with the Minister for decision at the end of this reporting period, and no applications were dismissed by the Minister following investigation.

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