Frequently Asked Questions by victims about parole

The Parole Board of Canada (PBC) and Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) jointly coordinate their victim services. To register as a victim, complete a Request for Victim Registration - Application Form.

See also How to register as a victim

Once a victim has registered with the PBC to receive information, they will receive:

• the offender's name;
• the offence and the court of conviction;
• the sentence start date and length; and,
• the offender's eligibility and review dates for unescorted temporary absences, parole, or statutory release.

Upon request, a victim may be provided with the following additional information, if the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) determines that the victim's interest clearly outweighs any compromise of the offender's privacy that could result from the disclosure of:

• the offender's age;
• the location of the penitentiary;
• the date of any release on an unescorted temporary absence, escorted temporary absence where the Board has approved the absence, parole or statutory release;
• the date of any Parole Board hearing;
• any conditions attached to an unescorted temporary absence, parole or statutory release;
• the reason for an unescorted temporary absence;
• the reason why an offender waived a hearing, if one was given;
• the destination of the offender when released on an unescorted temporary absence, parole or statutory release, and if the offender will be in the vicinity of the victim while traveling to that destination;
• whether the offender is in custody and, if not, the reason; and,
• whether the offender has appealed a Board decision and the outcome of the appeal.

See also Receiving Information.

To attend a parole hearing, a victim should complete and submit the Request to Observe a Hearing form.

See also Attending a parole hearing.

Financial assistance is available through the Victims Fund to registered victims who wish to attend parole hearings of the offender who harmed them.

Financial assistance is also available for a support person to accompany registered victims to Parole Board of Canada hearings, or to provide child or dependant care to enable victims to attend hearings.

For more information about the Victims Fund, contact Justice Canada at 1-866-544-1007 (toll-free) or visit the Department of Justice website.

Victims are encouraged to consult Attending a Hearing in a Federal Institution, to help familiarize themselves with the parole hearing process and what to expect on the day of the hearing.

Victims may also contact a Regional Communications Officer (RCO) in their region for further guidance by calling 1-866-789-INFO (1-866-789-4636) (toll free).

See also Attending a parole hearing.

A victim may present a statement to PBC Board members at the offender's parole hearing that outlines the continuing impact the offence has had on them, as well as any risk or safety concerns they feel the offender may pose.

For guidelines on what a victim statement should include, victims should consult the Victims: Presenting a Statement and Victims - Statement Checklist fact sheets.

See also Presenting a statement at a parole hearing.

Victims may submit information to the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) at any time related to safety concerns, the offender's risk to re-offend and/or the effect the crime has had on them, their family, or the community.

To submit information to the PBC about an offender, contact a Regional Communications Officer (RCO) in your region by calling 1-866-789-INFO (1-866-789-4636) (toll free).

See also Providing information.

Victims may submit information to the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) at any time related to safety concerns, the offender's risk to re-offend and/or the effect the crime has had on them, their family, or the community.

Victims may also request that conditions such as "no contact" be placed on an offender's release on parole.

To submit information to the PBC about an offender, contact a Regional Communications Officer (RCO) in your region by calling 1-866-789-INFO (1-866-789-4636) (toll free).

See also Providing information.

Once a victim has registered to receive information, they will receive the following: the offender's name; the offence and the court of conviction; the sentence start date and length; and, the offender's eligibility and review dates for unescorted temporary absences, parole, or statutory release.

Upon request, a victim may be provided with additional information (if the PBC determines that the victim's interest clearly outweighs any compromise of the offender's privacy that could result from the disclosure).

To request additional information, contact a Regional Communications Officer (RCO) in your region by calling 1-866-789-INFO (1-866-789-4636) (toll free).

See also Information available to victims.

To request a copy of a Parole Board of Canada decision (PBC) victims should complete and submit the Request for Decision Registry form.

See also Requesting a copy of a decision.

No. Under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, only an offender can appeal a parole decision by the Parole Board of Canada (PBC).

See also Appeals.

Yes. Under the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights (CVBR), victims of crime have a right to information, participation, protection, and restitution.

If you are a victim of crime and feel that your rights under the CVBR have not been respected, you have a right to file a complaint with the PBC.

Visit the PBC victim complaints process page for information on how to submit a complaint to the PBC.

PBC Board Members are the primary decision-makers in conditional release decisions and are independent in their decision-making. The decision-making process is systematic and highly structured. Public safety is the primary consideration in all PBC decisions.

In making conditional release decisions, Board members consider all relevant available information related to the offender’s case, including court and sentencing information, the nature and gravity of the offence, and information obtained from victims, the offender and other components of the criminal justice system, including assessments provided by correctional authorities, when assessing an offender's risk to re-offend and whether that risk can be safely managed in the community.

When making conditional release decisions, PBC Board members must consider and weigh any discordant information on file as part of a global risk assessment.

For example, differing or inconsistent information may be presented at a parole hearing. Board members are responsible for assessing the reliability and persuasiveness of information that is presented to them, and may ask further questions for clarification, as needed. If Board members do not ask questions about an issue, it does not mean the Board member agrees with the information as presented. Board members also conduct a comprehensive file review prior to hearings and may already have the required information for their assessment.

If there are issues raised during a hearing that you disagree with, you can include them in a victim statement for future consideration by Board members.

A parole hearing is a meeting between Board members and the offender. Its purpose is to help Board members assess the risk that the offender may present to the community should conditional release be granted. The hearing may take place in person, usually at the institution where the offender is incarcerated, or remotely by video or teleconference.

A paper review, sometimes called an in-office or file review, is when the Board members review all relevant available information related to the offender’s case without having a face-to-face meeting with them.

The decision on whether reviews are conducted by hearing or by paper review is determined by way of legislation and/or policy. Namely, subsection 140(1) of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA) indicates which reviews must be conducted by way of a hearing. In cases where a hearing is not required by legislation or policy, Board members can determine that a hearing is required pursuant to subsection 140(2) of the CCRA. This decision is made by Board members while exercising their independent discretionary authority.

PBC decisions rendered by way of a paper review are made in accordance with the same criteria set out in the CCRA and follow the same rigorous approach to risk assessment as decisions rendered by way of a hearing.

When scheduling hearings or reviews, the PBC takes several operational considerations into account, including considerations related to the hearing participants, such as Board members, PBC and Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) staff, victims, observers and the offender.

Additional factors that may impact the hearing date include legislative timeframes, language, location, technological requirements, cultural requirements, victim presentations, and/or observer attendance. The scheduling is also dependent on the PBC receiving all relevant available information required for the hearing or the review.

Once the PBC has the information required to move forward with scheduling, the month of the hearing is identified and provided to victims as soon as possible. This notification usually takes place approximately two to three months before the hearing, which allows victims to make arrangements to attend.

For virtual participants in other time zones, all efforts are made to schedule the start time in consideration of the time difference.

It should be noted that a hearing can be cancelled or rescheduled at any time, up to and including the day of the hearing. This includes cases where the offender requests a postponement, or withdraws or waives the review. Victims are informed as soon as possible when a hearing is cancelled or rescheduled.