In 1947, which act became law?

• A. Corrections and Conditional Release Act
• B. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• C. The National Parole Board
• D. The Penitentiary Act

Answer: (D)

This item tests knowledge of a historical milestone in Canada’s corrections system—the law that first formalized how federal prisons were run. The Penitentiary Act created a centralized, statutory framework for operating federal penitentiaries, establishing the authority and structure needed to confine and manage inmates. In 1947 this act became law, marking a clear codification of prison administration rather than relying on informal or ad hoc practices.

The other options represent developments that came later. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms was enacted in 1982, introducing fundamental rights that affect corrections but not the prison system’s foundational structure. The Corrections and Conditional Release Act came much later, in 1992, as part of modernizing corrections policy. The National Parole Board is an agency that was formed under different legislation in the mid-20th century, not the act that first established the penitentiary system.