_— a
New Haven administrative building (2001)
Corrections Branch Archives

In 1993, the escape and subsequent reoffending
of two young offenders brought early release
and transfer procedures for youth into
disrepute.

Danny Perrault was sentenced in 1991 as a
young offender to a three-year secure custody
sentence. This sentence was for a manslaughter
conviction in which he beat an elderly man to
death. In 1993, he was sentenced as an adult to
45 days for failure to return to Willingdon
Youth Detention Centre from a temporary
absence pass. After completing his escape
sentence, he was transferred to New Haven.

After only 10 days at New Haven, Perrault
walked away. While unlawfully at large, he
broke into an apartment and sexually assaulted
a 28-year-old woman. He was then sentenced to
14 years for break and enter, and sexual assault.
He tecetved a consecutive eight-month
sentence for being unlawfully at large.

The Correction Branch Inspection and
Standards Division prepared an investigative
report on the matter. Senior Branch staff

Cottages at New Haven (2007)

Corrections Branch Archives

received the report and restricted use of the
temporary absence policy for Willingdon.
Clarification was also made regarding the chain
of command to be followed in release
decisions.

When the report was released to the public in
April 1994, significant portions were deleted
because of the non-disclosure and
non-publication provisions in the Young
Offenders Act and Freedom of Information and
Protection of Privacy Act. This editing process, and
the perception that the Corrections Branch hid
facts and protected individuals, encouraged the
public’s mistrust in the report and the Branch:

Within days it became evident to the
Attorney General that public confidence in
the administration of justice was being
undermined by these events to a degree,
which called upon him to appoint an
independent commission of inquiry.36

Justice Jo-Ann E. Prowse was appointed to
inquire and report “...on the process and
procedure followed by the Ministry of Attorney

36 Justice Jo-Ann E. Prowse, Commission of Inquiry, Report on the Transfer of Daniel Michael Perrault to the

New Haven Correctional Centre, 1994,

The Era of Risk Management (1990-1997)

205