Victim's right to participation within federal corrections and parole
On this page
- Submit a victim statement
- Attend a parole hearing
- Other ways you can participate
- Make a complaint if your right has not been met
- National Office for Victims
You have a right to:
- submit a victim statement, sharing your views about decisions to be made by federal corrections and the parole authorities; and
- have your views considered by the Correctional Services of Canada and the Parole Board of Canada.
The federal corrections and parole system is administered by the Correctional Service of Canada and the Parole Board of Canada. You can participate in this system when the offender receives a sentence of two years or more (including life sentences).
You can also participate in the parole process for offenders serving a shorter sentence in any of the territories and provinces (except Quebec, Ontario and Alberta - check victim services in the province or territory where the offender is serving their sentence to get information about their parole services).
Submit a victim statement
Victim statements are different from the victim impact statement provided during the offender’s trial. Victim statements allow you to share the impact/harm caused by the offender as well as any safety concerns you may have.
You submitted a victim impact statement at the trial. Do you need to do it again?
- Yes. Victim statements are different from the Victim Impact Statement you may have provided during the offender’s trial. Victim statements are sent to the Correctional Service of Canada and the Parole Board of Canada and can be submitted at any time after sentencing.
- Victim statements allow you to share with the Correctional Service of Canada and the Parole Board of Canada the impact/harm caused by the offender as well as any safety concerns you may have.
- You can submit your statement in writing by email or by mail or use the Victims Portal. There is no special form to use to submit a statement.
- Submit your victim statement as soon as possible after you register so it can be considered in all upcoming decisions. You can update your statement at any time.
How is your victim statement used?
- The information in your statement will be considered in decisions about the offender’s security level, where the offender serves their sentence and whether to release the offender to the community.
- Your statement may help determine the types of programs the offender needs while incarcerated.
- Your statement will be considered by Parole Board members in decisions about the offender’s possible release and what conditions the offender must follow if they are released into the community.
- The law requires that they consider information that is received from victims when making a decision to release the offender into the community. However, you must register if you want to be informed when a decision to potentially release the offender who harmed you into the community is going to be made. Sending information to victims is not automatic.
- The law also requires the Correctional Service of Canada and the Parole Board of Canada to consider a great deal of other information; for example, reports from professionals, court and police reports, observations of the offender's behavior in jail, etc. The final decision must support the best strategy to ensure that the offender does not commit another crime.
What should you write in your victim statement?
Tell the Correctional Service of Canada and the Parole Board of Canada:
- what you think is most important for them to know;
- the emotional, physical and financial impacts that the crime has had on you and your family;
- any safety concerns you have; and
- your views about the possible release of the offender into the community.
You can also ask them to:
- not allow the offender to contact you while they are in jail;
- consider the area where you live, work and/or study when planning for the offender’s possible release into the community;
- not allow the offender to contact you or your family once released into the community under supervision; and/or
- not allow the offender to go to a specified area (known as a “geographic” condition), for example, in the area where you live, work or study, once released into the community under supervision.
It is not easy to write about painful experiences. The Victim Statement Checklist may help you get started.
You only need to submit your statement once. Once it is received, it will be considered every time a decision about releasing the offender into the community is made. Situations change as time goes by, you can submit an updated statement to the Correctional Service of Canada and/or the Parole Board of Canada at any time in the offender’s sentence.
Do you need to be registered to submit a victim statement?
- To send it to the Correctional Service of Canada - You do not need to be registered but they will need to confirm you are a victim of that offender.
- To send it to the Parole Board of Canada - You must be registered. This is how they confirm you are a victim of that offender.
- If you want to be informed when a decision is going to be made that could release the offender who harmed you into the community, you must register as a victim. Sending information to victims is not automatic.
Does the offender know you submitted a victim statement?
- Yes. Offenders are given a copy of all victim statements. The law requires that offenders receive all information that will be used in decision-making about how their sentences are administered. This allows them to respond if asked about it.
- The name you put on your victim statement is shared with the offender. However, the offender will not receive any other personal information about you, such as your address, email, etc.
- Your name is also given to the offender when there is a condition for them not to contact you while on release.
More information:
- Preparing and submitting a statement to the Correctional Service of Canada
- Preparing and submitting a statement to the Parole Board of Canada
- Presenting a statement at a parole hearing
Attend a parole hearing
Who can attend a parole hearing?
Anyone can request to attend a Parole Board of Canada hearing as an observer. You do not have to register as a victim.
Registered victims
As a registered victim you can:
- have a support person accompany you to the hearing;
- apply to be reimbursed for your travel costs;
- choose to present your victim statement at a hearing, or to have a support person present the victim statement on your behalf;
- provide your presentation by video or audio recording;
- request to observe a hearing by video conference or listen to an audio recording of the hearing; and
- request a transcript of a hearing, if one has been made.
More information
Other ways you can participate
Get involved as a member of a Regional Victim Advisory Committee. As a member you will meet with other victims and victim advocates to:
- inform and provide advice to the Correctional Service of Canada and the Parole Board of Canada about issues important to victims of crime;
- provide input and advice about policies and practices that include the victim’s point of view; and
- participate in information sessions to tell the public about the services available to victims.
To get involved, call 1-866-806-2275 or email victims-victimes@csc-scc.gc.ca.
Make a complaint if your right has not been met
If you feel your rights as a victim have been denied, you can submit a complaint. Information about how to do this is available at Making a Complaint under the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights.
National Office for Victims
You can visit the National Office for Victims for additional information and publications that explain the federal corrections and parole system.
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