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Chatham

Parole Board says Chatham murderer no longer needs psychological visits

A Chatham man convicted of murder 30 years ago has had a special parole condition removed because he is reintegrating into society well.

On May 2, 2022, the Parole Board of Canada decided to remove the condition to have Jason Cofell, 48, follow psychological counselling to be arranged by the parole supervisor in support of safe reintegration into society after he was incarcerated for murdering a military colleague and the victim's grandparents.

The other conditions that were previously imposed to avoid certain people will remain in effect. They include having no direct or indirect contact with any member of the victims' families, not associating with any person he knows or has reason to believe is involved in criminal activity, and not associating with any person he knows or has reason to believe is a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, except with written authorization from his Parole Officer.

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) recommended the removal of the special condition in a submission dated March 17, 2022. The psychological condition was initially imposed in the Board's decision when day parole was granted in May of 2016 and has been continually imposed since that time.

Cofell served 25 years of a life sentence for the murders of 18-year-old Jasen Pangburn and Pangburn's grandparents, Virginia and Alfred Critchley, in 1991. Cofell killed Pangburn after luring him to the woods in Chatham under the false pretense of firing guns for target practice. He then went to the victim’s grandparents’ house with an accomplice and stabbed Virginia and Alfred Critchley to death. Cofell pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder in their deaths.

Cofell was 18-years-old when he committed the murders and is a first time federal offender. His file stated that he was motivated by anger because one of the victims told others about his involvement with stolen guns.

Cofell was granted full parole in January of 2020.

"You demonstrate compliance towards your conditions and supervision expectations in general. You continue to require a low need for improvement in the Personal/Emotional risk domain. Your motivation and accountability levels are both assessed as high, as, importantly, is your reintegration potential, and you are actively engaged in your Correctional Plan," the parole board wrote as reasons for the decision.

Cofell recently lost his job when co-workers found out about his crimes, but the parole board said he handled it well and quickly re-focused on finding another job. He currently works long hours in a factory but said he doesn't mind it. Cofell is also in debt after a business enterprise failed, but the board said he is not feeling stressed about it.

"Despite concerns expressed by your Case Management Team (CMT) about these potential stressors, the psychologist with whom you have been working has reported that at no time in his contact with you has he been concerned that you have exhibited attitudes or behaviours that would place you at risk of re-offending and/or violating your release conditions," read the decision. "The psychologist has also confirmed that you have made positive gains with regards to community reintegration, made effective use of counselling and other supports, dealt well with stress, and continue to live pro-socially."

The parole board said Cofell has had more than 40 psychological sessions over the last six years and the psychologist maintains he is still a low risk to re-offend.

"The report outlines that you have responded well to difficult situations, and used the support of your CMT. It outlines the efforts you have put into effective problem-solving strategies, and encourages you to continue in this manner," the parole board said. "Given the assessed success of your reintegration as gauged by this mental health professional, the Board concludes that your psychological counselling condition can be removed at this time as doing so would not increase your risk to re-offend."

The board said if Cofell needs counselling in the future, or Corrections Canada (CSC) deem it necessary, the Board could then re-instate the special condition following an application by the CSC.

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