Feb. 24, 200

Questions of parole and plea bargaining

Joanne Roberts holds a Canada Research Chair in Economics of Organization and is examining how to optimize the parole system. / Photo: Ken Bendiktsen

Joanne Roberts now holds a Canada Research Chair in Economics of Organizations, a Tier 2 award in the field of social sciences and humanities worth $500,000 over five years.

“It’s really great,” Roberts says of being selected for a CRC. “It’s such an excellent program. And it gave me a way to come here.” The 38-year-old associate professor of economics came to Calgary last year following nine years at the University of Toronto’s economics department.

As part of her CRC research, Roberts is examining how to optimize the parole system and how prosecutors use plea bargaining may vary as a function of their own reward system.

“I’m interested in thinking about criminal legal institutions and how they work. I’m thinking about parole:  time to parole, parole itself, and how it gives incentives to people to undertake rehabilitation, and how then we could think of optimal parole systems,” she says.

The Canada Research Chair (CRC) Program was created in 2000 as part of a national strategy to make Canada one of the world's top countries for research and development.

“Our government recognizes the important role that research excellence plays in furthering innovation and competitiveness, two main elements in our science and technology strategy,” noted Goodyear at the announcement.

“This is why we announced a $5.1-billion investment in science and technology in Budget 2009—Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The Canada Research Chairs Program helps universities attract and retain the best researchers in the world, which promotes job creation, enhances the quality of life of Canadians and strengthens the economy for future generations.”

As well as Roberts’ new chair, five U of C researchers had their chairs renewed. Tier 1 chairs are worth $200,000 annually for seven years, and Tier 2 chairs are worth $100,000 annually for five years.

• Sarah Childs, Canada Research Chair in Angiogenesis and Genetics, Tier 2, $500,000;
• Eric F. Donovan, Canada Research Chair in Auroral Studies, Natural Sciences and Engineering, Tier 2, $500,000;
• Linda Marie Fedigan, Canada Research Chair in Primatology and Bio-anthropology, Natural Sciences and Engineering, Tier 1, $1.4 million;
• Richard Frayne, Canada Research Chair in Image Science, Health, Tier 2, $500,000; and
• Frank Jirik, Canada Research Chair in Molecular Medicine, Health, Tier 1, $1.4 million.

Fedigan’s renewal also came with a Canada Foundation for Innovation award from its Leaders Opportunity Fund, which is funding for infrastructure associated with a Canada Research Chair. She received $160,638 for use in the University of Calgary Primate Database Laboratory: Primate Adaptations to Changing Environments (PACE LAB).