Doug Snelgrove, former N.L. cop who raped civilian, released on day parole

A former St. John's police officer who raped a woman while on duty nearly a decade ago has been released on day parole after serving a quarter of his sentence behind bars.

Doug Snelgrove was convicted of sexual assault in 2021 after a jury found he did not have consent when he committed sexual acts against a 21-year-old woman he drove home from a downtown nightclub in 2014.

He was granted day paroleAug. 7, according to a Parole Board of Canada decision, and ordered to reside at, and return nightlyto,his home in St. John's.The sole parole condition listed on the decision prohibits Snelgrove from contacting his victim.

Snelgrove was also granted full parole, which begins in January 2025. If he had beenrefused parole, he would have been released from custody by law in April 2026, after serving two-thirds of his sentence what's known as statutory release.

Both day and full parole arenot automatically grantedand arenormally served at a correctional institution or halfway house, as opposed to the offender's place of residence, as in Snelgrove's case.

The parole board says it denies full parole toapproximately sevenout of 10 offenders at their first parole review date.

"The law givesPBCabsolute discretion in decisions to grant or deny parole," says the board's website. "In arriving at a decision, board members consider the risk that the offender may present to society if released and determine if, and to what extent, that risk can be managed in the community. The protection of society is the overriding consideration in any release decision."

Snelgrove's parole decision, obtained Friday by CBC News, says he was assessed to have a low risk of reoffending.

The former Royal Newfoundland Constabulary constable was sentenced to nearly four years in prison in November 2021.He has spent the vast majority of his time since his sentencing over two years of it living at home with his wife while on bail, while petitioning to have his appeal heard by the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal andthe Supreme Court of Canada.

He began serving his time in earnest in February, after the country's top court declined to hear his case.

In all, the former officer has spent just under a year of his three-year, 10-monthsentence behind bars, with his jail time spread out over several short stints beginning in May 2021.

Good behaviour a factor in release

The parole decision describes Snelgrove as a model inmate, noting the former cop behaved while in prison and filled his days constructively, "finding work in the institution and taking part in other activities."

"Your levels of accountability, motivation and reintegration potential are rated as high. You are considered to be engaged in your correctional plan," board members wrote.

"You are typically a good problem solver, and you are not impulsive. The night of the offence was an exception to this, and your actions were impulsive and very spur of the moment."

Snelgrove would have been sent to a halfway house in St. John's to complete his parole, but the parole board noted "security issues" due to his former profession.

"Your home was also assessed as suitable for a day parole ...where you would reside with your wife, who remains supportive of you. Local police were contacted, and they agree with [Correctional Service Canada]'s recommendation. They expressed concerns with your safety should you be placed in a [halfway house]."

He'll also have leave privileges to help him reintegrate into society, the board wrote, adding its decision to grant parole was based in part on several letters from people who attested to Snelgrove'scharacter.

Release good for community, decision says

During his parole hearing, board members askedSnelgrove if he believed he had any deficits that needed work. He said he wanted to "work on being more open" with loved ones.

"Since being incarcerated you have intentionally worked on being more open and accessing mental health support. You intend to build on this when back in the community," the decision reads.

The board also asked about his state of mind when he sexually assaulted his victim, known across the province as Jane Doe.

"You advised the board that at the time of your current offence, you were emotionally disconnected from your spouse and not able to communicate or ask for help from your partner," the decision said.

"The board asked for your definition of a good cop. You stated that you believed you were a good cop and treated people fairly. That your reputation among your peers was that you related well to people and were able to defuse situations through communication versus force. You realize the shame you have brought on your family, your former employer, and the community and that you do not want this event to define you."

Snelgrove told the board he wanted to "apologize to the victim as you can appreciate how difficult this process has been for you and can appreciate what they must have experienced as well."

The decision also says Snelgrove recognized hemade a "huge mistake" and neededto accept the verdict and move on.

"The board inquired about the conflicting versions of the offence from you and the victim," it said.

"You stated that you told your truth and have told the same truth at each trial and that is all you can do."

Decade-long impact

The Snelgrove case has captured the outrage of the Newfoundland and Labrador public for almost 10 years and prompted several women to launch lawsuits against other Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officers for alleged sexual misconduct.

The former officer was the subject of two trials, both tossed out due to judicial errors, before he was convicted during his third time in front of a jury.

His crimehas sparked several protests, ignited conversations about how sex assault survivors are treated in the justice system, and led the RNC to change its policy about officers offering rides to civilians.

In his previous stints on bail, Snelgrove worked as a security guard. He is no longer a member of the RNC but served with the force for a decade before his arrest in 2015.

The parole document says Snelgrovenow intends to pursue training in a trade.

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