N.S. woman who killed daughter granted 60-day pass from prison, but not parole

A Nova Scotia woman, Penny Boudreau, who was convicted of murdering her 12-year-old daughter in 2008 has recently been granted an unescorted pass from prison for 60 days. However, her request for day parole was denied by the Parole Board of Canada, citing that she wasn’t prepared to live in a community setting with fewer restrictions for an extended period.

In her plea in January 2009, Boudreau confessed to strangling her daughter, Karissa Boudreau, with a length of twine on the night of January 27, 2008. The tragic incident occurred as Boudreau felt that her daughter was interfering with her relationship with a boyfriend. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison but became eligible to apply for day parole or unescorted temporary absence with three years left in her sentence.

Day parole, which can last up to six months, is less restrictive than unescorted temporary absence. Both require offenders to return to a supervised setting at night, such as a halfway house. However, those on day parole have more freedom to leave unescorted for short periods, while those on temporary absence do not have that privilege.

During the hearing in Truro, N.S., Karissa’s father, Paul Boudreau, emotionally expressed the profound impact his daughter’s death had on his life. He questioned his role as a father and lamented the void left by her absence. The parole board panel acknowledged that Boudreau had completed correctional programs, received mental health treatment, and demonstrated a low risk of reoffending based on psychological risk assessments.

Despite her progress, Boudreau was identified as a high risk for engaging in unhealthy intimate relationships. Throughout the hearing, she struggled to articulate the broader community’s pain caused by her actions. She tearfully mentioned how her unescorted day passes facilitated her gradual reintegration into society but acknowledged that there was still work to be done in her rehabilitation journey.

The parole board members emphasized the severity of Boudreau’s crime and the lasting impact on the community, highlighting the need to prioritize society’s protection. They decided to review her case in six months and imposed conditions on her unescorted temporary absence, including continued mental health treatment, avoiding contact with the victim’s family, and disclosing any new relationships with men who have parental responsibilities for minors.

As the hearing concluded, Boudreau tearfully expressed remorse for the pain she had caused and emphasized that she takes the gravity of her actions seriously. The parole board emphasized the ongoing healing process for the community and the importance of Boudreau’s accountability and commitment to rehabilitation.