Day parole has been extended for a former Chatham resident who murdered a teen and killed the boy's grandparents more than 25 years ago.
The Parole Board of Canada (PBC) has decided to continue to monitor 43-year-old Jason Cofell for another six months, citing a number of reasons including his diagnosis of mixed personality disorder and the fact that he had been "engrossed in the world of guns" when he committed the murders.
Cofell previously pleaded guilty to murdering 18-year-old Jasen Pangburn and Virginia and Alfred Critchley in 1991 and was handed a life sentence with no chance of full parole until November 2016.
He was initially granted day parole following a PBC hearing in May 2016 and has been living at a Community Residential Facility (CRF) in an undisclosed location since then. His day parole was extended in November 2016 because of good behaviour.
Cofell's most recent Correctional Plan Update, which took place in March 2017, indicates that he has a "low need for improvement in the areas of social interaction and personal/emotional orientation," also noting that his "accountability and motivation level are currently rated as high" and his "reintegration potential" is rated as "medium."
The release from the PBC notes that Cofell has accepted full responsibility for the offence according to "file information," including his hearings with the PBC.
The latest assessment reports that Cofell continues to "present as compliant with [his] release conditions" and maintains "a positive attitude toward supervision."
It also notes that he has been focusing on securing employment after he was dismissed from his full-time job at a factory near the end of his probation period for showing up late on two occasions and calling in sick twice.
The report from the PBC says since Cofell was let go from his factory job, he has been working with an employment counselor and is currently concentrating on his jewelry making business. He also has plans to apply for a small business grant in the near future.
While he is on day parole, Cofell has several conditions he must obey. Those include: avoiding direct or indirect contact with any member of the victims' family and following psychological counselling in support of safe reintegration.
Cofell also needs to avoid contacting anyone who he has reason to believe is involved in criminal activity and anyone who he has reason to believe is a member of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Cofell committed the murders while he was a member of the Reserve Force of the Canadian Armed Forces and the PBC says there is "a concern that [he] may be susceptible to the negative aspects of being in a military or para-military organization."
The report also states that Cofell's current psychological counselling has been going well, to the point where his clinician has noted that he has "made great strides towards community reintegration on release" and that he is "comfortable and confident in the community."
However, the clinician also encouraged Cofell to "slow down and devote some time to relaxation and leisure activities" noting that he "may be driven to make up for the time that [he] spent incarcerated."
In summary, the PBC's decision notes that it is "fully aware of the horrendous impact [Cofell's] offences have had on the community, including the friends and family of the victims, but the board also notes that Cofell is "currently assessed as posing a low risk for future offending" and that he has been "fully compliant with the all the terms and conditions" of his release.
The latest decision from the board is dated March 28, 2017.
