Day parole has again been extended for a man who murdered three people in Chatham.
On October 29, 2019, the Parole Board of Canada made the decision to continue Jason Cofell's day parole for up to six months and order a hearing for full parole. The parole board said Cofell's risk to re-offend remains low, he has complied with his release conditions, and has been cooperative. This is Cofell's seventh day parole extension and his privileges remain the same.
Cofell was convicted of killing three people in Chatham nearly three decades ago.
His application for full parole stated he will continue working at a factory and establishing his leather business, move into the apartment he shares with a roommate, and maintain positive family supports. The 46-year-old Cofell wrote that he believes he deserves full parole because he has been on day parole for 3.5 years without incident, maintains positive supports with his mother, and has gainful employment.
Cofell must stay at a halfway house two days a week but is free to stay in the community at large the rest of the time. The Parole Board has imposed some special conditions that Cofell must abide by during his release. They include following psychological counselling to be arranged by his parole supervisor in support of safe reintegration. He is also not to associate with anyone believed to be involved in criminal activity or is a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, except with written authorization from his parole officer. Cofell has also been ordered to avoid contact with any member of the victims' families.
He is serving 25 years of a life sentence for the murders of 18-year-old Jasen Pangburn, Virginia Critchley, and Alfred Critchley. Cofell killed Pangburn after luring him to the woods in Chatham under the pretence of firing guns for target practice. He then went to the victim’s grandparents' house and stabbed both of them to death.
Cofell pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder in their deaths.
A parole board file stated Cofell and the first victim were members of the same militia regiment and the victim was going to report Cofell to the police for trafficking in illegal firearms.
Day parole allows an offender to participate in community-based activities in preparation for full parole or statutory release. Offenders on day parole must return nightly to a community-based residential facility or halfway house unless otherwise authorized by the Parole Board of Canada.
Full parole, if granted, allows an offender to serve part of their sentence under supervision in the community under specific conditions. Full parole normally follows successful completion of day parole. Offenders on full parole typically reside in a private residence to prepares them for their eventual release to the community following completion of their sentence.
